Matthew Hertgen is an ex-collegiate soccer player of Princeton University who has recently been accused of murdering his younger brother, Joseph, find out more about him and the incident below
According to reports, Matthew killed his own younger brother and his pet cat in an apartment over the weekend.
Who is Matthew Hertgen, ex-Princeton University soccer player who murdered his brother Joseph and his pet cat in New Jersey
Matthew Hertgen, 31, from Toms River, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, weapons offenses and animal cruelty after killing his brother Joseph Hertgen, 27 and a pet cat.
Officers found him at the scene with Joseph’s body, showing signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations from a knife and golf club assault. Joseph was pronounced dead on the spot, alongside the dead cat.
The brothers, raised in a $1.2 million Toms River mansion by their tech mogul father, were both college soccer stars, Matthew at Wesleyan University and Joseph at the University of Michigan. Joseph worked as a banker after graduating in 2020 while Matthew is now in custody with a motive still unknown
Matthew Hertgen accused of killing his younger brother
former college soccer star from ''Princeton'', New Jersey, has been charged with ''murdering his own little brother'' — ''and a pet cat'' — over the weekend in an apartment ''near the campus of Princeton University.''
''Matthew'' Hertgen, 31, allegedly used a knife and a golf…— MatterThatMatters (@WillMatter4) February 24, 2025
Just over this past weekend, age 31 Matthew Hertgen was accused of killing his younger brother, age 26 Joseph Hertgen, and his pet cat. Matthew carried out the killings in an upscale Michelle Mews apartment complex located off Witherspoon Street near the Princeton University campus in New Jersey. According to official court documents, the incident took place approximately at around 11:15 p.m. on Saturday. According to the authorities, Matthew used a knife and a golf club to kill his 26-year-old brother.
After carrying out the attack, Matthew reportedly called 911 to report a fire and a dead body inside the residence. When the police arrived, they discovered Joseph’s bloodied body and immediately took Matthew into custody as the prime suspect. While speaking about the issue, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office stated:
The complaint alleges that Matthew purposely 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.”
Matthew Hertgen bio
Matthew Hertgen is a 31-year-old native of Princeton, New Jersey, who was a former collegiate soccer player. He attended Princeton University, where he received recognition for his dedication to both sports and studies. During his time at university, he was renowned for his athletic skills and was a part of the college soccer team. He mainly played as a midfielder for the team and was widely considered a promising athlete. Most of his friends and acquaintances described him as a reserved but generally well-mannered person. Aside from this, there is limited information available regarding his professional career or other personal details.
⚠️WARNING: This post contains graphic descriptions of violence
Matthew Hertgen, 31, from Toms River, New Jersey, was arrested & charged with first-degree murder, weapons offenses, & animal cruelty after killing his brother Joseph Hertgen, 26, & a pet cat. The brutal attack took… pic.twitter.com/05ruxqLNOE
— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) February 25, 2025
Matthew Hertgen now facing multiple charges
Following the shocking and tragic incident, Matthew Hertgen is now facing charges of first-degree murder alongside multiple weapons offenses. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office came forward to confirm all the charges against Matthew. In a statement, the office shared how if Mathew gets convicted, he could face a 30-year prison sentence or life imprisonment. Authorities are set to conduct an autopsy to officially determine the cause of Joseph Hertgen’s death.