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Man Received Warning Text Before Alleged Murder by Brother Experiencing ‘Terrifying Visions’
By Latoya Gayle | Published on March 7, 2025, 10:23 AM EST
Joseph Hertgen was warned about his brother Matthew’s declining mental health shortly before he was killed, according to newly released court documents.
A probable-cause affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital and NBC News reveals that a surviving brother sent Joseph a text message about an hour before his death, advising him to reach out if he needed help with Matthew. Joseph responded, “will do” and thanked him. The surviving brother had also told Joseph that Matthew was struggling with “visions” and later invited Matthew on a hike the next day, but received no reply.
Brutal Attack and Disturbing Details
Matthew Hertgen, 31, a former Wesleyan University soccer player, has been charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses for allegedly killing his younger brother Joseph, 26, in a Princeton, New Jersey, apartment on February 22. According to court documents, Matthew used a knife and a golf club in the attack before allegedly removing Joseph’s eye.
Authorities also charged Matthew with animal cruelty, as he is accused of setting the family’s cat on fire, per Fox News Digital and the New York Post.
When Matthew called 911, he told dispatchers that there was a fire and a dead body in the apartment. Responding officers found Joseph on the dining room floor in a pool of blood, with severe head trauma and a chest laceration. His right eye was missing, and bloodied eating utensils and a plate were found on the dining table.
Mental Health Concerns and Legal Proceedings
The surviving brother told authorities that he had spent several hours with Matthew before the attack and described him as “extremely distressed, despondent, and experiencing terrifying visions.” He also noted that Matthew had struggled with severe mental illness for five years.
After his arrest, Matthew allegedly admitted to officers that he had gone “into a fit of madness,” according to court filings.
Matthew has agreed to remain in custody ahead of his next court appearance on March 24.
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