A 31-year-old Princeton man has been charged with murder and weapons offenses after allegedly killing his younger brother, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey.
Matthew Hertgen allegedly killed 26-year-old Joseph Hertgen. He was charged with third- and fourth-degree weapons offenses related to possession of a knife and a golf club in the Feb. 22 incident, the prosecutor’s office said.
Matthew Hertgen was also charged with animal cruelty in connection with the death of a cat that was found in the Michelle Mews Apartments near Palmer Square, the prosecutor’s office said.
Police responded to the apartment at 11:16 p.m. after receiving a 9-1-1 call reporting a fire and a dead body in the apartment.
Police officers found Matthew Hertgen, who made the call, in the apartment along with the bodies of the victim and the cat.
Joseph Hertgen was pronounced dead at the scene. He had suffered various injuries, including signs of blunt force trauma. The cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy.
The Mercer County Homicide Task Force, the Princeton Police Department and the New Jersey State Police Crime Scene Unit investigated the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Mercer County Homicide Task Force Sgt. Will Jett at (609) 331-5010 or Detective Karl Johnston at (609) 439-5248.
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. A fourth-degree crime carries a sentence of 18 months to three years in state prison and a fine of $10,000.
