By Anne Levin

Matthew Hertgen, the 31-year-old man arrested last weekend for the murder of his brother Joseph Hertgen, 26, at Michelle Mews Apartments, made his first appearance in court on Monday, February 24. He is due back for a detention hearing on Friday, February 27, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

At about 11:16 p.m. on Saturday night, February 22, Princeton Police responded to a 911 call reporting that there was a fire and a dead body in one of the residences at the luxury complex that is part of The Residences at Palmer Square. Police found Matthew Hertgen, who was determined to be the 911 caller, in the apartment along with the body of the victim “which exhibited various injuries including signs of blunt force trauma and lacerations,” the release from Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey reads. “Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The investigation into the murder, by the Princeton Police Department, the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the State Police Crime Scene Unit, led to Matthew Hertgen being charged with first-degree murder along with various third- and fourth-degree offenses related to possession of a knife and a golf club. Hertgen is also charged with one count of third-degree animal cruelty in the death of a cat that was located within the residence.

Joseph Hertgen was an analyst at Locust Point Capital, where he was responsible for supporting the portfolio management team, according to the company’s website. He was a 2020 graduate of the University of Michigan, where he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten soccer player for the men’s soccer team. At Toms River North High School, he was a New Jersey Central II All-State soccer player in 2015. Matthew Hertgen played soccer at Wesleyan University.

The exact cause and manner of the victim’s death are pending results of an autopsy. The first-degree crime of murder carries a sentence of 30 years to life in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree crimes have a sentence of 18 months to three years in state prison and a fine of $10,000, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force Sergeant Will Jett at (609) 331-5010 or Detective Karl Johnston at (609) 439-5248.

“Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” concludes the press release.