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Hertgen's charges were announced Monday, Feb. 24, by Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey, following the Saturday, Feb. 22 death of 26-year-old Joseph Hertgen in Princeton.
Matthew is also charged with third- and fourth-degree weapons offenses for allegedly possessing a knife and a golf club, as well as third-degree animal cruelty for the death of a cat found inside the apartment, Marbrey said. The NY Post says that Hergen used the golf club and the knife in the attack.
The investigation began on Saturday at approximately 11:16 p.m., when Princeton police responded to a 9-1-1 call about a fire and a dead body inside the Michelle Mews Apartments, Marbrey said. Officers arrived and found Matthew Hertgen, who had called 911 himself, along with the body of his brother Joseph, police said. The victim showed multiple injuries, including blunt force trauma and lacerations, Marbrey said.
Joseph Hertgen — who played soccer for the University of Michigan — was pronounced dead at the scene, and authorities launched an investigation involving the Mercer County Homicide Task Force, Princeton Police Department, and New Jersey State Police Crime Scene Unit, officials said.
Prosecutors allege that Matthew Hertgen knowingly engaged in conduct that caused the death of his brother, though the cause and manner of death remain pending an autopsy, authorities said.
Both brothers hailed from Toms River. Joseph Hertgen had been working as an analyst at Locust Point Capital in New York City, his LinkedIn page shows.
If convicted, Matthew Hertgen faces 30 years to life in state prison for the first-degree murder charge. The additional third-degree charges carry three to five years in prison, while the fourth-degree charges carry up to three years, prosecutors said.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Mercer County Homicide Task Force at (609) 331-5010 or Detective Karl Johnston at (609) 439-5248.
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