Former college soccer player beat star athlete younger brother and a cat to death with golf club, cops say

Matthew Hertgen has been charged with murder after police found his younger brother beaten to death in Princeton, New Jersey - (Wesleyan.edu)

A former Wesleyan University soccer player is facing murder charges after police say he beat his star athlete brother to death with a golf club.

Matthew Hertgen, 31, is facing murder and animal cruelty charges after police say he killed his 26-year-old brother Joseph Hertgen and a cat last week, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The investigation began Saturday when police responded to a call reporting a fire and dead body in a luxury apartment complex near Princeton University in New Jersey.

When police arrived, they discovered Matthew, who they believe made the 911 call. Police also found Joseph’s body, which “exhibited various injuries including signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations,” the prosecutor’s office said.

Joseph Hertgen, 26, was found dead in his apartment on Saturday with signs of 'blunt force trauma and lacerations' (University of Michigan)

Now, they believe Matthew killed his younger brother — and a cat in the apartment — with a golf club and a knife, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Matthew is facing a first-degree murder charge, which means he could serve 30 years to life in prison if convicted. He’s also facing a fourth-degree weapons charge, which carries a maximum of three years in prison, and a third-degree animal cruelty charge, which carries a maximum of five years in prison.

Matthew Hertgen's booking photo. He could face life in prison if convicted (New Jersey Prosecutor's Office)

The New York Post reports Matthew posted poems on his Facebook page about knives and blood in September. The poems referenced choking and suffocating, ending with the phrase: “He’s dead.”

The brothers grew up in Toms River, New Jersey, a township an hour outside of Princeton. Matthew graduated from Wesleyan University in 2015, while Joseph graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020.

Both were star players on their respective men’s soccer teams.

Matthew Hertgen was a star soccer player at Wesleyan University. (AP2009)

Joseph was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, according to the University of Michigan 2019 men’s soccer roster. The award is earned by students who play on a varsity team and maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher.

He was also a three-time University of Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement awardee, a title given to students who “distinguished themselves as leaders in both the classroom and community.”

Joseph studied business administration. He has another brother, David, and their parents are Dave and Debbie Hartgen.

The Independent has contacted the University of Michigan and Wesleyan University for comment. The Independent was unable to identify Matthew’s attorney for comment.