Former Soccer Player Charged in Brutal Killing of Brother and Family Cat in Princeton

Matthew Hertgen, 31, is accused of fatally attacking his younger brother Joseph, 26, with a knife and golf club, and setting the family cat on fire in their luxury apartment.

Police responded to a 911 call from Matthew Hertgen on February 22, reporting a fire and a dead body at the Michelle Mews Apartments in Princeton, New Jersey.
Authorities allege that Matthew used a knife and golf club to fatally attack his brother Joseph, a University of Michigan graduate and former soccer player, before setting the family cat on fire.
Investigators discovered a bloody knife, fork, and plate near the victim's body, leading to speculation that Matthew may have consumed part of his brother's remains.
Months before the attack, Matthew posted violent and unsettling poems on social media, which some believe may reflect his deteriorating mental state.
Matthew, a former Wesleyan University soccer player, has been charged with first-degree murder, weapons offenses, and animal cruelty, facing up to life in prison if convicted.