Ex-Soccer Star Joseph Hertgen 26 Bludgeoned and Stabbed to Death by Brother with Golf Club and Knife, Police Say!

February 25, 2026

This article was last updated by Pranaya Poudel on February 25, 2026

Former soccer star Joseph Hertgen, 26, was brutally bludgeoned and stabbed to death by his elder brother, Matthew Hertgen, 31, on the night of February 22, 2026.

The tragic incident occurred at the Michelle Mews Apartments in Princeton, New Jersey.

Matthew Hertgen, a former Wesleyan University soccer player, reportedly used a golf club and a knife to beat his brother, , to death brutally.

The incident came to light when Matthew called 911 to report a fire and a dead person inside the apartment.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Matthew inside the residence along with Joseph’s lifeless body and the dead cat.

Joseph had several injuries, such as being hit hard and having deep cuts. Sadly, he was declared dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, the prime motive behind Matthew’s brutal actions remains unknown. Similarly, the exact cause and manner of Joseph’s death are pending autopsy results.

The 31-year-old Matthew is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of his brother, Joseph Hertgen.

Likewise, he is also charged with multiple weapons offenses and animal cruelty for killing Joseph and a pet cat found at the scene.

Joseph Hertgen was a promising young athlete who had played soccer for the University of Michigan from 2016 to 2019.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2026, specializing in Accounting and Finance.

At the time of his death, 26-year-old Joseph was working as an analyst at Locust Point Capital in New York City.

The Hertgen brothers were raised by their parents, mother Debra and father David Hertgen, in Toms River, New Jersey.

Their father, , is a wealthy tech entrepreneur who has been the president and CFO of WiLine Networks for over two decades since 2002.

Matthew Hertgen Was a Standout Soccer Player During His College Years!

Like Joseph, his brother Matthew also had a sound collegiate soccer career, consistently playing as a midfielder.

Matthew played as a midfielder for Wesleyan University from 2011 to 2014.

Thomas began his college soccer career as a freshman midfielder in 2011. He stood 5’8″ and weighed 145 lbs and wore jersey number 3.

In 2012, Thomas continued to play as a midfielder in his sophomore year and maintained his position during his junior year as well.

During his senior year in 2014, Matthew gave notable performances as a midfielder.

On September 27, 2014, he took three shots in a game against Hamilton College, which was his season high for shots.

He managed to get a shot on goal during the match against Amherst College on October 18, 2014.

Although he didn’t score any goals, with a notable attempt in the game against Middlebury on November 1, 2014, Matthew provided an assist in the game against Salve Regina University on October 7, 2014.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Joseph and Matthew Hertgen’s father, David, worked at MasterCard International for 11 years, from 1988 until 1999, before working at Trintech Technologies for 3 years.
• Their father, David, graduated from Rider University and earned his master’s of Business Administration from Fordham Gabelli School of Business.

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Aditi is an avid music lover whose interest's goes beyond the realm of music, with passion in digital marketing. A Gen Z who loves her personal space and is keen to exploring new things. An optimist who seeks silver lining in every circumstances life throws at her.

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