PRINCETON, N.J. (NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY) — A heartbreaking and almost unbelievable tragedy has shaken the quiet town of Princeton, New Jersey. A 31-year-old man, Matthew Hertgen, is facing accusations of murdering his younger brother, 26-year-old Joe Hertgen, in an upscale apartment just blocks away from Princeton University.
Matthew Hertgen appeared for a court hearing this week via video link from Mercer County Jail. Handcuffed and wearing a protective vest, he seemed calm, even waving to his attorney before returning to his cell. Both the prosecutor and defense attorney have agreed to reconvene next week to sort through the details before any official plea or decisions about detention are made.
This tragedy has sent shockwaves through the community. Joe Hertgen, the victim, was an accomplished young man—a former University of Michigan soccer player and a financial analyst at a firm in Redbank. Friends and colleagues remember him as driven and kind-hearted.
The devastating events unfolded Saturday night when police were called to Joe’s apartment near Witherspoon Street. Ironically, it was Matthew Hertgen himself who made the call, reporting a fire at the residence. However, when officers arrived, they discovered something far more horrifying. Inside the second-floor apartment, Joe was found dead, his body showing signs of being both slashed and beaten. To make matters even more disturbing, the family’s cat was also found dead at the scene.
As investigators piece together the events leading up to this tragic night, disturbing details have emerged. Police revealed that Matthew had been posting violent and unsettling poetry on social media in the days prior. As of now, there’s no clear motive for the alleged attack, leaving everyone wondering: What could have led to such a devastating act?
This story is a stark reminder of the fragility of family bonds and the unspoken struggles that can sometimes brew beneath the surface. As more details come to light, the community mourns the loss of a promising young life and grapples with the shocking betrayal of brotherhood.
