Princeton man charged with his brother’s creepy murder is referred to court: what to know
Princeton, New Jersey, a man accused of Killing brother and family cat He should appear in court for the first time.
Matthew Hertgen (31) is charged with first -degree murder Regarding the death of his 26-year-old brother Joseph Hertgen. He has also been charged with charges of third and fourth degree weapons related to possession of a golf club and a knife, as well as cruelty to animals associated with the death of a cat.
Hertgen is expected to appear almost a remote hearing at Mercer County Prison on Thursday morning. Due to the reform of the causes in New Jersey, the criminal charged or charged are allowed and allowed to go home until the date of their judgment, or to accuse and hold their order in custody until their detention hearing.
“The Prosecutor’s Office, in this case, will decide whether to delay or let go of you,” said David Gelman, CEO of Gelman Law, former prosecutor in New Jersey, for Fox News Digital. “If you are detained, then you have to have a hearing in custody, what is happening tomorrow. And at a detention hearing, they will make evidence. It is almost a mini trial.”
Matthew Hertgen (Prosecutor Office Mercer County)
Prosecutors can make a “statement of a probable cause” during the hearing, and I can even call “a witness or two,” Gelman explained.
There is also a scoring system for criminal accused in New Jersey, which means that the accused of crimes were awarded a “score” in the range of 1 to 5, depending on the nature of their alleged crimes, with 5 representing the worst offenses, said Gelman.
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Joey Joey signs Hertgen with the University of Michigan as a football player. (Regional School Quarter Toms River)
Gelman also predicts that Hertgen’s defense, which is currently listed as public defender Jamie Hubert, will request a mental health test. The public veterans’ office said Fox News Digital that his lawyers do not comment on cases on hold.
“I feel that a kind of mental problem is happening here because you have an individual who is [in his 30s] And there is no criminal history … The pillar of the community, from what I understand, in a very well -to -do area, Rijeka Toms, where he grew up, and he lives in Princeton now, Which is very rich, “Gelman said.” And to accuse him of these allegations, which are very disturbing, I have to think that a kind of mental problem is happening. “
Princeton police initially responded to the call 911 22. At about 11:16 pm, reporting a fire and a dead body in the Michelle Mews apartment complex. (University of Michigan | Wesleyan | Google Maps University)
Princeton police initially responded to the call 911 22. February around 11:16 pm Reporting fire and dead body in the Michelle Mews apartment complex.
Upon arrival, the police revealed that Matthew Hertgen, who was determined to be a 911 caller, was in a residence, along with his brother’s body, “showed signs of blunt force trauma and distribution,” Mercer said in a statement to the public.
A general view of the Michelle Mews housing complex in Princeton, Nj, February 26, 2025. Matthew Hertgen allegedly killed his brother Joseph in their apartment on Saturday. (Kevin Downs for Fox News Digital)
Authorities have yet to describe any motive relating to Hertgen’s accusation of murder. The suspect shared some disturbing, graphic poetry on his Facebook profile in September and May 2024.
Joseph Hertgen was proclaimed dead at the scene, and his results are in progress. Local and state officials explore the death of a 26-year-old as murder.
Joseph Hertgen was a football player of the University of Michigan. (Facebook)
Gelman said the community was shocked by the murder.
“It’s something that is uncommon, which is probably an underestimation.”
“Princeton is a very wealthy area. … houses there, minimal, you probably look 750[,000] And that’s probably like a little hut. So, talk about some areas of big money. And the cops are there … very widespread because they want to make sure there is no crime. That’s a safe area. You have a lot of private schools … so you talk about a very, very rich, rich area in Princeton. “
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Both brothers played college football: Matthew at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and Joseph at the University of Michigan.
An investigation into Joseph’s death is ongoing. Mercer district authorities They ask anyone with information about the alleged crime to contact the killing working group. Will Jet at 609-331-5010 or DET. Karl Johnson at 609-439-5258.
