John Jefferson
New Jersey authorities have arrested a Princeton man accused of killing his former college athlete brother and a cat, allegedly with a knife and golf club, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Matthew Hertgen, 31, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Joseph Hertgen, 26, as well as third- and fourth-degree weapons charges related to possession of a golf club and knife. He is also facing an animal cruelty charge.
Princeton police initially responded to a 911 call on Feb. 22 around 11:16 p.m. reporting a fire and a dead body at the Michelle Mews Apartments complex.
“When officers responded to the scene, they found Matthew Hertgen, who was determined to be the 9-1-1 caller, in the residence along with the body of the victim, which exhibited signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations,” the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release.
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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.
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Both brothers played college soccer — Matthew at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and Joseph at the University of Michigan.
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The investigation into Joseph’s death is ongoing. Mercer County authorities are asking anyone with information about the alleged crime to contact the Homicide Task Force Sgt. Will Jett at 609-331-5010 or Det. Karl Johnson at 609-439-5258.
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