Former soccer star is arrested for murdering his little brother near Princeton University By RACHEL BOWMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 17:50 EST, 24 February 2025 | Updated: 17:53 EST, 24 February 2025 e-mail View comments A former college soccer star has been arrested for murdering his little brother and his cat at a luxurious apartment building in New Jersey . Matthew Hertgen, 31, was charged with first-degree murder, various weapons offenses and animal cruelty for killing his 26-year-old brother Joseph Hertgen.
The Hertgen brothers were raised in the quaint coastal town of Toms River by their multi-millionaire tech mogul father David and mom Debra. Princeton Police responded to a 911 call reporting that there was a fire and a dead body within one of the residences inside the Michelle Mews Apartments on Saturday, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. When officers responded to the scene, they found Matthew, who was determined to be the caller, in the residence along with the body of the victim and a dead cat.
Police believe Matthew - who attended the ritzy private college Wesleyan University - used a knife and a golf club to brutally assault and murder his brother - who worked as a banker after graduating from the University of Michigan . '[The victim] exhibited various injuries including signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations. Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene,' prosecutors said.
'The complaint alleges that Matthew purposely or knowingly engaged.