ABC News November 25, 2018

Family inside home when man allegedly set it on fire willing to testify in his defense

WATCH: New details in the mysterious New Jersey quadruple homicide and mansion fire

Paul Caneiro, the man accused of setting a fire at his New Jersey mansion last week, will next appear in court on Wednesday, but his family is already stepping up to defend him in a mysterious case that may include the quadruple murder of Caneiro's brother's family.

Caneiro, 51, allegedly used gasoline to ignite a blaze at his Ocean Township home on Tilton Avenue around 5 a.m. on Nov. 20 while his wife and two daughters were inside, according to an arrest warrant obtained by ABC News.

But Caneiro's lawyer, Robert Honecker, told ABC News on Saturday that his wife, Susan, and daughters, Marissa and Katelyn, "fully support him and would be willing to testify at his hearing on Wednesday." All three escaped the fire unharmed.

WABC
An image made from aerial footage shows a home that was burned in a fire on Nov. 20, 2018 in Ocean Township, N.J.
(MORE: NJ family was 'targeted' and killed before mansion fire in New Jersey: Prosecutor)

A decision on if they testify will be made early this week.

On the same day as Caneiro's home in Ocean Township burned, his brother's mansion in nearby Colts Neck, New Jersey, also burst into flames. Authorities responding to the fire found the bodies of Keith Caneiro, Paul's brother and business partner, and his wife, Jennifer, and their two young children. Keith Caneiro had been shot, while the other three had been stabbed to death, according to police.

Monmouth County prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said at a news conference Wednesday that the family was "targeted" in the horrific crime.

"The case has transcended into a multiple homicide investigation in addition to the arson matter. And to date, our investigation has revealed that unfortunately, sadly, each of these individuals were the victims of homicidal violence at some point prior to when the fire was set," Gramiccioni said.

Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office via AP
Paul Caneiro, who prosecutor charged on Nov. 21, 2018, with aggravated arson. He's accused of setting fire to his own home in Ocean Township, N.J. That fire took place early Tuesday morning before authorities responded to a deadly blaze at the Colts Neck mansion owned by Caneiro's brother Keith and Keith's wife, Jennifer.
(MORE: 4 dead in New Jersey mansion fire, police investigating as arson)

Gramiccioni did not say whether Paul Caneiro is a suspect in the murder of his brother's family, and he has only been charged with aggravated arson in connection to his own home.

Honecker said Wednesday that Paul Caneiro will "assert his innocence for this charge as well as any other potential charges."

The fire at Keith Caneiro's Colts Neck mansion broke out about seven hours after the fire in Ocean Township. The two towns are only about 10 miles apart.

WABC
Firefighters battle a blaze in a house in Colts Neck, N.J., Nov. 20, 2018.
(MORE: Family of man killed at Alabama mall 'outraged' by police treatment)

Keith Caneiro was the founder and chief executive officer of Square One, a technology services consulting firm in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Over $7,100 had been raised by a GoFundMe account for Paul Caneiro's two daughters as of early Sunday.

Honecker said the house in Ocean Township was cleared by authorities Saturday evening and the family has been allowed back in to collect their belongings, but it is inhabitable at this time.

ABC News' Aaron Katersky and Josh Margolin contributed to this report.