Landlord Fatally Hit Tenant With Car In West Long Branch; Didn't Call 911: Police

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — The Ocean Township woman accused of hitting a man with her car, killing him, and failed to call 911, was the man's landlady, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor.

Adriano Catano, 46, was a tenant in a West Long Branch home owned by Rena Cain, 53, of Ocean Township.

Catano, originally from Brazil, was living in the home at 123 Wall Street while he did construction work to renovate the property. However, a dispute had broken out between the two, as Catano said Cain owed him between $100,000 to $200,000 for work he had done on the home, said police.

On the evening of April 28, police say Cain drove over Catano in the front yard of the home and then made many attempts to hide what happened, including telling witnesses to lie to the police, said the Monmouth County Prosecutor. Cain was arrested this week and is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and third-degree hindering.

From detectives with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office, here are details of the case:

West Long Branch police responded to a 911 call at about 10 p.m. April 28, reporting that someone at a home at 123 Wall Street was injured.

Officers arriving at the property found the front door open and observed extensive damage inside the residence, including broken windows, debris, damaged walls and writing on the walls. Nobody was inside the house, but officers found a man (Catano) lying on his back in the front yard. He was bleeding from his face and had bruising all over his body. Police found no pulse.

Police began lifesaving efforts, but Catano was pronounced dead in the yard at 11 p.m.

Investigators said two witnesses who spoke Portuguese told police that Cain had called one of them shortly after 9 p.m. asking him to come to the home because Catano was threatening to destroy the residence.

The witnesses told police when they arrived they found Catano lying injured in the front yard. According to the affidavit, Cain allegedly asked one witness, a man, to check on Catano.

The man replied that he was nervous to touch the body. They repeatedly asked her to call the police, and she refused, according to the affidavit.

"Instead, Cain insisted that Witness #1 meet her back at her other residence, located in Ocean Township .... Witness #1 stated that as they were driving (there), Cain took off and he lost sight of her vehicle," read the affidavit.

When the two witnesses finally did meet back up with Cain that evening at her home on Norwood Avenue in Ocean, one witness secretly recorded the conversation they had, because he believed Cain was acting suspiciously, according to prosecutors.

The recordings captured discussions about what to tell police. Cain and another woman with her that evening started telling one of the witnesses that he hit Catano with his car.

At some point, West Long Branch Police were called to the Wall Street home and they were the ones who contacted Cain and told her they needed to speak with her. Investigators interviewed her after advising her of her Miranda rights.

According to the affidavit, Cain initially told investigators she had gone to the property to check on Catano because she was concerned about his mental state after he allegedly threatened to destroy the house. Cain told police she knew Catano for more than 15 years and described him as her best friend. She said he had been having mental health issues and his behavior had recently become erratic.

She told police Catano told her she did not have to pay him the $100,000 she owed him for all the work he had done on the house because he was going to destroy the house and "give it back to her in the condition that it was previously."

That's when she became alarmed and left the home without incident, she told police. Cain later suggested that one of the witnesses may have hit him after she left.

But Cain later changed her account, telling police investigators she felt what she believed were two "thumps" beneath her Range Rover that evening, but thought she had driven over a shovel. According to the affidavit, she later said, "If I hit him, it was a million percent an accident," adding that she loved Catano "deeply."

Investigators questioned why Cain did not call police after seeing Catano on the ground. According to the affidavit, Cain said she believed he was fine and did not want to contact law enforcement because she had promised never to call police on him out of concern he could face deportation.

According to the affidavit, Ring camera video showed Cain and others inspecting the wheels and underside of her Range Rover with cellphone flashlights after she left the Wall Street property. The affidavit says Cain can be heard saying she thought she hit "him" but also believed there may have been a shovel on the lawn.

Search warrants executed on Cain's Range Rover uncovered what investigators described as possible trace evidence underneath the vehicle and apparent swipe marks on the hood. Laboratory testing of the evidence is pending.

Detectives also reviewed cellphone records and text messages obtained through search warrants. Text messages from Cain to another person (not named) expressed her frustration over Catano's continued presence at her Wall Street property.

At 1 p.m. on the day of Catano's alleged murder, Catano told Cain he 'will not leave the residence until he is paid $100,000,'" said police.

Someone responded to her, “All you have to do is make one call and he’s gone forever," said police.

Cain and the other person then "discuss their disdain for the victim and .... that the victim is in a vulnerable position and that she is just waiting until his health or legal situation brings it to an end. (Redacted) goes on to discuss financial difficulties and (redacted) is going to have to sell her investments because the victim is ruining everything."

Then, at 4 p.m. that same day, April 28, (name redacted) "begins sending text messages to Cain explaining that they are running out of money due to the victim remaining at the 123 Wall Street residence, due to the fact that Cain promised to pay the victim $100,000-$200,000. (Name redacted) tells Cain that the financial struggles will continue until the victim either passes away or is detained."

"Upon further review of Defendant Cain’s cell phone extraction, numerous contentious text messages between her and Catano begin on April 25, 2026 where she asks him why he is destroying the house. (Catano) tells Cain that she ruined his life and has held him hostage. Defendant Cain sends the victim messages that he should return to Brazil, but then tells him that she wants to help him and that she loves him, and that he should take medication ... Cain also tells the victim that he needs to stop destroying the house and that she does not respond well to threats. (Catano) tells Defendant Cain that she is slowly killing him and she responds by telling him to stop and that he is doing the same thing to her. Moreover, on April 26, 2026 (two days prior to Catano's death), Defendant Cain sent a text message to (redacted) advising her that she hopes the victim 'has a heart attack and dies.'"

Initial report: Ocean Twp. Woman Accused Of Hitting Man With Car, Leaving Him To Die (Wednesday)