Latest news with #MatthewHertgen
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
New Jersey man killed younger brother in 'fit of madness,' bloody eating utensils found at scene, officials say
A New Jersey man was in a 'fit of madness' and experiencing 'terrifying visions' when he allegedly murdered his younger brother, according to new details from the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. An affidavit released Thursday details the day Matthew Hertgen, 31, allegedly killed Joseph Hertgen, 26, with a golf club and knife in a Princeton apartment. Both men are former college soccer players, Matthew Hertgen at Wesleyan University and Joseph Hertgen at the University of Michigan. On Feb. 22, Matthew Hertgen called 911 and reported a fire and a dead body inside his apartment, telling dispatchers his brother had been dead for over half an hour. Princeton Police Department arrived on scene to find Joseph on the dining room floor with signs of blunt force trauma and a 'large laceration to his chest and abdomen which exposed his chest cavity.' His right eyeball was not visible, according to police, who found the presumed murder weapon and bloody utensils nearby Joseph's body. 'Patrol officers observed a cup of what they believed to be blood, along with blood smeared eating utensils and a blood smeared plate on the dining room table…,' the affidavit reads. A cat was also found dead on scene with signs of burns and blunt force injuries. Matthew Hertgen, who had 'abrasions and scratches' on his hands, told police he 'went into a fit of madness.' He was then detained and transported to Princeton Police Headquarters where he declined to speak with detectives. A third brother of the Hertgen family told investigators he had been with Matthew Hertgen earlier that day, describing him as 'extremely distressed, despondent, and experiencing terrifying visions.' Upon dropping Matthew Hertgen off at around 10 p.m., the third brother saw Joseph Hertgen and later texted him to 'contact him immediately if he needed any help,' according to officials. He also reached out to Matthew Hertgen telling him to 'hang in there,' and invited him on a hike the next day. It was just over an hour later that Matthew Hertgen made the 911 call reporting Joseph's death. Matthew Hertgen had suffered from 'severe mental illness' for five years, the third brother told officials. A poem posted to his Facebook months before the murder describes knives, blood and pain. He now faces first-degree murder, third-degree animal cruelty, and several weapons charges. In a hearing at Mercer County Court Thursday afternoon, Matthew Hertgen voluntarily consented to pre-trial detainment. His next court appearance will be on March 24, according to the judge. This article was originally published on
NBC News
06-03-2025
- NBC News
New Jersey man killed younger brother in ‘fit of madness,' bloody eating utensils found at scene, officials say
A New Jersey man was in a 'fit of madness' and experiencing 'terrifying visions' when he allegedly murdered his younger brother, according to new details from the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. An affidavit released Thursday details the day Matthew Hertgen, 31, allegedly killed Joseph Hertgen, 26, with a golf club and knife in a Princeton apartment. Both men are former college soccer players, Matthew Hertgen at Wesleyan University and Joseph Hertgen at the University of Michigan. On Feb. 22, Matthew Hertgen called 911 and reported a fire and a dead body inside his apartment, telling dispatchers his brother had been dead for over half an hour. Princeton Police Department arrived on scene to find Joseph on the dining room floor with signs of blunt force trauma and a 'large laceration to his chest and abdomen which exposed his chest cavity.' His right eyeball was not visible, according to police, who found the presumed murder weapon and bloody utensils nearby Joseph's body. 'Patrol officers observed a cup of what they believed to be blood, along with blood smeared eating utensils and a blood smeared plate on the dining room table…,' the affidavit reads. A cat was also found dead on scene with signs of burns and blunt force injuries. Matthew Hertgen, who had 'abrasions and scratches' on his hands, told police he 'went into a fit of madness.' He was then detained and transported to Princeton Police Headquarters where he declined to speak with detectives. A third brother of the Hertgen family told investigators he had been with Matthew Hertgen earlier that day, describing him as 'extremely distressed, despondent, and experiencing terrifying visions.' Upon dropping Matthew Hertgen off at around 10 p.m., the third brother saw Joseph Hertgen and later texted him to 'contact him immediately if he needed any help,' according to officials. He also reached out to Matthew Hertgen telling him to 'hang in there,' and invited him on a hike the next day. It was just over an hour later that Matthew Hertgen made the 911 call reporting Joseph's death. Matthew Hertgen had suffered from 'severe mental illness' for five years, the third brother told officials. A poem posted to his Facebook months before the murder describes knives, blood and pain. He now faces first-degree murder, third-degree animal cruelty, and several weapons charges. In a hearing at Mercer County Court Thursday afternoon, Matthew Hertgen voluntarily consented to pre-trial detainment. His next court appearance will be on March 24, according to the judge.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Princeton preppy murder suspect had 'fit of madness,' 'terrifying visions' before killing brother: docs
The Princeton, New Jersey, man known as a star student in high school who is now accused of killing his brother and a family cat allegedly told police he had a "fit of madness" when they responded to the scene of the crime, according to court records obtained by local news outlets. Matthew Hertgen, 31, is accused of murdering his 26-year-old brother, Joseph Hertgen, in the family's Princeton apartment, allegedly with a knife and golf club. He is also charged with animal cruelty related to the death of a cat. Princeton police initially responded to a 911 call from Matthew on Feb. 22 around 11:16 p.m. reporting a fire and his brother's dead body at the Michelle Mews Apartments complex. When a dispatcher asked Matthew how his brother was injured, he said, "I'm not gonna go into any more details right now," a probable cause statement obtained by reads. Savage Timeline In Princeton Preppy Murder Could Bolster Insanity Defense For Suspect Brother: Expert Police arrived and found Matthew in the residence along with his brother's body, which had significant injuries to the head — including a missing eye — as well as injuries to Joseph's chest and upper body. Police also found a cup of blood with utensils and a plate, reported, citing the probable cause document. Read On The Fox News App While interviewing Matthew, who apparently had cuts on his hands, he told police he "went into a fit of madness… maybe like forty minutes ago." Princeton Preppy Accused In Brother's Gruesome Murder Heads To Court: What To Know Homicide detectives also interviewed Matthew's other surviving brother, who told police the 31-year-old suspect had struggled with mental health issues for about five years. SIGN UP TO GET True Crime Newsletter The brother had seen Matthew earlier in the day, when he had been experiencing a depressive episode and "terrifying visions," the brother told police, according to Princeton Man Shared Eerie Poems On Social Media Before Allegedly Killing Former Star Athlete Brother, Cat Matthew appeared in court Thursday morning for a detention hearing, which is typically when evidence is presented by the defense and prosecutors to determine whether a defendant should be held behind bars or released, according to David Gelman, CEO of Gelman Law and a former prosecutor in New Jersey. However, during Thursday's hearing, no evidence was presented because Matthew consented to pretrial detention, meaning it was not necessary for the prosecution to show evidence proving why he should be held in jail before his trial. WATCH: Defense for Princeton man accused of killing brother should seek mental health exam, expert says "It's very disturbing. You don't see many murders like this," Gelman told Fox News Digital. "You can see it's very personal.… I was a prosecutor and I dealt with a ton of murders… and as a defense attorney, I also deal with murders. And when you see these types of really gruesome, graphic, heinous crimes… I have a feeling that this individual definitely has some type of mental illness." Princeton Man Accused Of Killing Former Star Athlete Brother, Cat With Golf Club, Knife Near Ivy League School Gelman also said he would request a mental health evaluation for the suspect. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X "If I was [the] defense attorney, I wouldn't fight it. I would say, you know what? We think there's a mental issue," Gelman said. The public defender's office, which is representing Hertgen, told Fox News Digital that its attorneys do not comment on pending cases. Joseph Hertgen was pronounced dead at the scene, and his autopsy results are pending. Local and state officials are investigating the 26-year-old's death as a homicide. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub Joseph and Matthew Hertgen were star soccer players in high school and college. They were both athletes at Toms River High School, and Matthew went on to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Joseph Hertgen was recruited to play soccer at the University of article source: Princeton preppy murder suspect had 'fit of madness,' 'terrifying visions' before killing brother: docs
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Princeton preppy murder suspect attempts suicide as slain brother laid to rest: report
A New Jersey man accused of savagely killing his brother and ripping out his eyeball attempted to kill himself inside his jail cell, according to the New York Post. Matthew Hertgen, 31, tried to hang himself at Mercer County Correction Center just hours after he made a virtual court appearance in relation to murder charges he is facing for the slaying of his 26-year-old brother, per the report, citing a law enforcement source. Hertgen is accused of killing his brother Joseph at the family's luxury Princeton apartment last Saturday, allegedly with a knife and golf club. Police believe Matthew may have ripped out his brother's eye and tried to eat it, a law enforcement source told the New York Post. Princeton Man Accused Of Killing Former Star Athlete Brother, Cat With Golf Club, Knife Near Ivy League School He is also charged with animal cruelty after the family's cat was set on fire. Fox News Digital reached out to Mercer County Correction Center for more information on the reported attempted suicide but did not immediately receive a response. Read On The Fox News App Joseph Hertgen's wake took place on Friday and his funeral is scheduled to take place today St. Luke Roman Catholic Church in Toms River, according to his obituary. "He played on many sports teams, loved traveling with his friends, and always enjoyed a good game of ping pong or chess," the obituary reads. "He was such a kind person, had a great love of life and his smile brightened every room." Princeton police initially responded to a 911 call on Feb. 22 at around 11:16 p.m. reporting a fire and a dead body at the Michelle Mews Apartments complex. Upon arrival, police found Matthew Hertgen, who was determined to be the 911 caller, in the residence along with his brother's body, which "exhibited signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations," the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said in a press release. Authorities have yet to describe any kind of motive related to Hertgen's murder charges. Wife Of Murdered Minnesota Pastor Charged In Alleged Plot To Kill Husband On Mission Trip: Church Matthew Hertgen shared some disturbing, graphic poetry on his Facebook profile in September and May 2024 that described blood oozing out of eyes and "knives sharpening." One of Matthew Hertgen's friends from Toms River High School told Fox News Digital that he has "nothing bad to say" about the former soccer player, who went on to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Joseph Hertgen also played soccer at Toms River before he was recruited to the University of Michigan. Daniel Gotlin of Gotlin & Jaffe in New York told Fox News Digital that he knew the Hertgen brothers to be very smart, but he added that Matthew "obviously" had some "mental health issues." Gotlin, who is not involved in the Hertgen case, successfully tried a mental health defense in 2014 while representing a man accused of fatally stabbing his mother. He believes Matthew's public defenders will consider an insanity plea for the 31-year-old suspect, which would ensure that he is kept in the custody of a mental health facility rather than prison until and if he is determined not to be a threat to society. "There's absolutely no doubt he's got a phychiatric disorder," he said. "I don't know what kind of physical evidence they have on him, but if [prosecutors] have got a good case, you've got to look at a psychiatric defense. "Gotlin believes it is "very unlikely this guy would see the light of day" if he were to be committed to a mental health facility. The defense attorney noted the possibility of schizophrenia, which typically appears in men when they are in their late teens and early 20s through their late 20s. A new pre-trial hearing has been rescheduled for March 6 to allow both prosecutors and the defense more time to gather discovery, or information about Hertgen's article source: Princeton preppy murder suspect attempts suicide as slain brother laid to rest: report
Fox News
01-03-2025
- Fox News
Princeton preppy murder suspect attempts suicide as slain brother laid to rest: report
A New Jersey man accused of savagely killing his brother and ripping out his eyeball attempted to kill himself inside his jail cell, according to the New York Post. Matthew Hertgen, 31, tried to hang himself at Mercer County Correction Center just hours after he made a virtual court appearance in relation to murder charges he is facing for the slaying of his 26-year-old brother, per the report, citing a law enforcement source. Hertgen is accused of killing his brother Joseph at the family's luxury Princeton apartment last Saturday, allegedly with a knife and golf club. Police believe Matthew may have ripped out his brother's eye and tried to eat it, a law enforcement source told the New York Post. He is also charged with animal cruelty after the family's cat was set on fire. Fox News Digital reached out to Mercer County Correction Center for more information on the reported attempted suicide but did not immediately receive a response. Joseph Hertgen's wake took place on Friday and his funeral is scheduled to take place today St. Luke Roman Catholic Church in Toms River, according to his obituary. "He played on many sports teams, loved traveling with his friends, and always enjoyed a good game of ping pong or chess," the obituary reads. "He was such a kind person, had a great love of life and his smile brightened every room." Princeton police initially responded to a 911 call on Feb. 22 at around 11:16 p.m. reporting a fire and a dead body at the Michelle Mews Apartments complex. Upon arrival, police found Matthew Hertgen, who was determined to be the 911 caller, in the residence along with his brother's body, which "exhibited signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations," the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said in a press release. Authorities have yet to describe any kind of motive related to Hertgen's murder charges. Matthew Hertgen shared some disturbing, graphic poetry on his Facebook profile in September and May 2024 that described blood oozing out of eyes and "knives sharpening." One of Matthew Hertgen's friends from Toms River High School told Fox News Digital that he has "nothing bad to say" about the former soccer player, who went on to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Joseph Hertgen also played soccer at Toms River before he was recruited to the University of Michigan. Daniel Gotlin of Gotlin & Jaffe in New York told Fox News Digital that he knew the Hertgen brothers to be very smart, but he added that Matthew "obviously" had some "mental health issues." Gotlin, who is not involved in the Hertgen case, successfully tried a mental health defense in 2014 while representing a man accused of fatally stabbing his mother. He believes Matthew's public defenders will consider an insanity plea for the 31-year-old suspect, which would ensure that he is kept in the custody of a mental health facility rather than prison until and if he is determined not to be a threat to society. "There's absolutely no doubt he's got a phychiatric disorder," he said. "I don't know what kind of physical evidence they have on him, but if [prosecutors] have got a good case, you've got to look at a psychiatric defense. "Gotlin believes it is "very unlikely this guy would see the light of day" if he were to be committed to a mental health facility. The defense attorney noted the possibility of schizophrenia, which typically appears in men when they are in their late teens and early 20s through their late 20s. A new pre-trial hearing has been rescheduled for March 6 to allow both prosecutors and the defense more time to gather discovery, or information about Hertgen's case.
