A former college soccer player is accused of killing his younger brother and a cat, New Jersey prosecutors announced Monday, Feb. 24.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said charges have been filed against Matthew Hertgen, 31, for first-degree murder and weapons offenses in connection with the death of his 26-year-old brother, Joseph Hertgen.
He is also charged with animal cruelty for allegedly killing a cat who lived in the apartment.
The incident allegedly occurred on Saturday, Feb. 22 at an apartment in downtown Princeton, N.J., prosecutors said in a press release.
A knife and a golf club were allegedly used in the killing, prosecutors believe.
“The complaint alleges that Matthew purposefully or knowingly engaged in conduct that led to the death of his younger brother and caused the death of a cat that was located within the residence,” states the press release.
Officers responded to the apartment complex at around 11:16 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting a fire and a dead body inside the Michelle Mews Apartment complex.
Joseph Hertgen.
Toms River Regional School District/Facebook
“When officers responded to the scene, they found Matthew Hertgen, who was determined to be the 911 caller, in the residence, along with the body of the victim which exhibited various injuries including signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations,” the press release states.
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Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of Joseph’s death is pending an autopsy, prosecutors said.
Matthew Hertgen played soccer Toms River North High School and went on to play at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, MLive reported.
Joseph, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten soccer player, played at the University of Michigan from 2016 to 2019, per MLive.
He was also a high school two-time MVP and offensive player of the year, according to the Detroit News. He later graduated from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and had a career in asset management, per the News.
