Former College soccer player accused of killing his fellow athlete, cat: prosecutors

A former university soccer player is accused of killing his younger brother and a cat, New Jersey prosecutors announced on Monday, February 24.

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s office said charges have been filed against Matthew Hertgen, 31, for first -degree murder and weapons crimes in relation to the death of his 26 -year -old brother, Joseph Hertgen.

He is also accused of animal cruelty for allegedly killing a cat who lived in the apartment.

The incident supposedly happened on Saturday, February 22 in an apartment in Princeton center, New Jersey, prosecutors said in a press release.

A knife and a golf club were supposedly used in the murder, prosecutors believe.

“The complaint alleges that Matthew dedicated himself to the behavior to the death of his younger brother and caused the death of a cat that was located inside the residence,” says the press release.

The officers responded to the apartment complex around 11:16 pm after receiving a 911 call informing a fire and a corpse inside the Michelle Mews apartment complex.

“When the officers responded to the scene, they found Matthew Hertgen, who was determined to be the person who called 911, in the residence, along with the victim’s body that exhibited several injuries, including signs of force of forceful force and Lacerations, “the press release”, the Press Statement States.

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Joseph was declared dead on the scene.

The cause of Joseph’s death is aware of an autopsy, prosecutors said.

Matthew Hertgen played football Toms River North High School and went on to play at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Mlive reported.

Joseph, three times academic player of Academic Football All-Big Ten, played at the University of Michigan from 2016 to 2019, for Mlive.

It was also an MVP twice from high school and an offensive player of the year, according to the Detroit news. He later graduated from the Stephen M. Ross business school and had a career in asset management, according to the News.