Latest news with #MercerCountyProsecutor'sOffice
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
One dead after Saturday afternoon two-vehicle crash in Mercer County
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – One man is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Mercer County on Saturday. According to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened at approximately 3 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. Route 33 and Celina Mendon Road. The initial investigation found a 48-year-old from Mendon was heading south on Celina Mendon in his 2005 white Cadillac. A 62-year-old from Wallingford, Kentucky, was driving a 2004 white Peterbilt (semi-tractor and trailer) was heading east on U.S. 33. Officials said it appeared the 48-year-old stopped at the stop sign for Celina Mendon Road. Then went into the path of the semi-tractor and trailer. Officials pronounced the 48-year-old dead on the scene. This crash is still under active investigation and will be forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office for review. 2 NEWS will update this article when more information is available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
NJ pastor accused of drugging, sexually assaulting teen
A New Jersey pastor allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a teenager in his home, authorities said. Charles B. Brinson was arrested at his Trenton home Feb. 19 after the victim accused him of drugging the teen's drink and accosting them once they passed out, authorities alleged. The 16-year-old made the accusations against Brinson, 64, more than a year ago, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. The Bishop of the Brinson Memorial Church was charged with two counts of sexual assault of an incapacitated victim and two counts of endangering the welfare of the child. Brinson, who founded the church in 2014, allegedly abused the victim last year, in two separate incidents in his home, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. The probe of the pastor is ongoing. He was released following his arrest. Brinson founded the church in 2014. On his Facebook page, Brinson claimed to be a volunteer Trenton Police chaplain. Brinson did not return calls seeking comment. In September 2008, Brinson was arrested for picking up a 15-year-old boy in Philadelphia, and bringing him back to his home in Florence, N.J., according to FOX 29. The charges were eventually dropped. In 2009, Brinson accepted a plea deal, and was sentenced to four years on probation. He was also required to register as a sex offender, FOX 29 reported.
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.
