A plate and utensils smeared with blood were allegedly found inside the home of a Princeton, N.J., man accused of killing his younger brother in February, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed.
There was also a small cup filled with what appeared to be blood at the scene, the document states.
On Feb. 22, Matthew Hertgen, 31, called 911 to report a “fire and a dead body” inside his residence, the affidavit says. When officers arrived on the scene around 11:15 pm, they reportedly found the body of Matthew’s brother Joseph Hertgen, 26, on the dining room floor with a “large pool of blood” around his head and torso.
Joseph appeared to have suffered blunt force trauma to the back of the head, as well as a major laceration to his chest and abdomen, and his right eye was “not visible,” per the affidavit. There was a golf club nearby, as well as the body of a dead cat which had suffered blunt force injuries and was “partially burned,” per the document.
When officers detained Matthew, who reportedly had cuts on his hands, he allegedly told them he’d experienced a “fit of madness” about forty minutes earlier, the document states.
During the course of their investigation, officials spoke with Matthew and Joseph’s older brother, who reportedly told them Matthew had been experiencing severe mental illness for five years and that he’d been “extremely distressed, despondent, and experiencing terrifying visions” on the day of Joseph’s death, the affidavit reads.
On the night of the alleged murder, the older brother reportedly texted Joseph telling him that Matthew was having “visions” and to let him know if he needed help. Joseph responded “will do,” per the affidavit.
Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. His cause of death is pending an autopsy, prosecutors have stated.
Matthew has been charged with first-degree murder, as well as related weapons possession and animal cruelty charges.
Matthew played soccer at Toms River North High School and went on to play at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, MLive previously 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 outlet.
Matthew appeared in court on Thursday for a detention hearing. His parents were not in the courthouse, according to Fox News, and he was represented by a public defender.
