Former Michigan Wolverines soccer player Joseph Hertgen, 26, was reportedly bludgeoned and stabbed to death by his older brother.
The incident occurred on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 11:16 p.m. when the Princeton Police Department responded to a fire and a dead body within one of the residences inside the Michelle Mews Apartments in Mercer County in New Jersey.
Officials said when they got to the scene, they found Matthew Hertgen, 31, who was determined to be the 911 caller, in the residence along with the body of his younger brother, who exhibited various injuries, including signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations.
Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause and manner of the 26-year-old’s death are pending the results of an autopsy.
Joseph Hertgen
Joseph was a three-time Academic ALL-Big Ten athlete (2019-2019) and a three-time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement recipient (2017-2019).
During his senior year in 2019, he was named Academic All-Big Ten while winning the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement award.
As a junior in 2018, Joseph was named Academic All-Big Ten, U-M Athletic Academic Achievement while seeing action vs. Marquette. He made his college debut off the bench vs. South Florida on Aug. 27, 2018.
As a sophomore in 2017, Joseph was Academic All-Big Ten and U-M Athletic Academic Achievement while missing the season due to injury.
Joseph didn’t see match action as a true freshman in 2016.
As a prep student-athlete, Joseph was named to the New Jersey Central II All-State team in 2015, first team A-South Division, first team A-South Division (2014-2015), and Toms River North Offensive Player of the Year and MVP during the 2015-15 season.
Matthew Hertgen charges
Matthew was a well-known soccer player as well who attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut.
The 31-year-old was charged with first-degree murder, along with various third and fourth-degree weapons offenses related to possession of a knife and a golf club and one count of third-degree animal cruelty in connection with the death of his younger brother, Joseph.
It is alleged that Matthew purposely or knowingly engaged in conduct that led to the death of Joseph and caused the death of a cat that was located within the residence.
The first-degree crime of murder carries a sentence of 30 years to life and a fine of up to $200,000.
Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years and a fine of up to $15,000.
Fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of 18 months to three years and a $10,000 fine.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing, but if anyone has information, they are asked to contact the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office’s Homicide Task Force Sgt. Will Jett at 609-331-5010, Detective Karl Johnson at 609-439-5248, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up.
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