Princeton preppy murder victim received warning text from other brother hour before slaying

The surviving member of Princeton execution fishy Matthew Hertgen sent a informing substance connection to his youngest member astir an hr earlier helium was murdered.

Matthew Hertgen, 31, is accused of murdering his 26-year-old brother, Joseph Hertgen, successful the family's Princeton apartment, allegedly with a weapon and play club. He is besides charged with carnal cruelty related to the decease of a cat.

Matthew's surviving member allegedly spent clip with him hours earlier the alleged transgression connected Feb. 22, a Saturday, according to a probable origin connection obtained by Fox News Digital. 

The member seemingly told constabulary that Matthew had "suffered from terrible intelligence unwellness for the past 5 years."

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Matthew Hertgen is accused of murdering his younger member and a feline successful their Princeton, N.J., apartment. (University of Michigan/ Mercer County prosecutor/ Google Maps)

"He further explained that erstwhile helium spoke to Matthew earlier that day, Matthew was extremely distressed, despondent, and experiencing terrifying visions," the papers states. "Wanting to assistance him, [the surviving brother] picked Matthew up astatine [redacted] astatine astir 4:30 p.m. [The surviving brother] and Matthew went to the market store and past to [the surviving brother's] residence … wherever they remained until astir 10:00 p.m."

The member past drove Matthew backmost to his residence, wherever helium saw Joseph Hertgen, the victim. After a little discussion, the surviving member near and returned to his apartment.

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Matthew Hertgen appears astatine his pretrial detention proceeding astatine Mercer County Criminal Court connected March 6, 2025, successful Trenton, N.J. (Stephanie Keith for Fox News Digital)

Approximately an hr before the murder, the surviving member told Joseph via substance that Matthew was struggling with "his visions" and to interaction him if helium needed help. Joseph responded, "Will do."

Approximately 45 minutes earlier Matthew called 911 to study Joseph's dormant body, his surviving member texted him, inviting him to spell connected a hike the adjacent day.

"Hang successful there," Matthew's older member texted him.

Around 11:16 p.m. connected Feb. 22, constabulary responded to a 911 telephone from Matthew reporting a occurrence and his brother's dormant assemblage astatine the Michelle Mews Apartments complex.

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Matthew Hertgen appears astatine his pretrial detention proceeding astatine Mercer County Criminal Court connected March 6, 2025, successful Trenton, N.J. (Stephanie Keith for Fox News Digital)

When a dispatcher asked Matthew however his member was injured, helium said, "I’m not gonna spell into immoderate much details close now," the probable origin connection reads.

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Police arrived and recovered Matthew successful the residence on with his brother's body, which had important injuries to the caput — including a missing oculus — arsenic good arsenic injuries to Joseph's thorax and precocious body. They besides recovered a cupful of humor with "blood-smeared" utensils and a plate, the probable origin papers states.

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Joseph and Matthew Hertgen's precocious schoolhouse yearbook photos

Investigators further discovered a deceased feline connected an ottoman that appeared partially burned.

While interviewing Matthew, who seemingly had cuts connected his hands, helium reportedly told constabulary helium "went into a acceptable of madness… possibly similar forty minutes ago."

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Matthew Hertgen is accused of murdering his younger member and a feline successful their Princeton, New Jersey, apartment. (Facebook)

Hertgen appeared successful tribunal Thursday greeting for a detention hearing, which is typically erstwhile grounds is presented by the defence and prosecutors to find whether a suspect should beryllium held down bars oregon released, according to David Gelman, CEO of Gelman Law and a erstwhile authoritative successful New Jersey.

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However, during Thursday's hearing, nary grounds was presented due to the fact that Hertgen consented to pretrial detention, meaning it was not indispensable for the prosecution to amusement grounds proving wherefore helium should beryllium held successful jailhouse earlier his trial.

None of Hertgen's household members were successful tribunal connected Thursday. He is scheduled to instrumentality to tribunal connected March 24.

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Family and friends stitchery for the aftermath of Joseph Hertgen astatine the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home connected Feb. 28, 2025 successful Toms River, N.J. (Stephanie Keith for Fox News Digital)

The nationalist defender's office, which is representing Hertgen, told Fox News Digital that its attorneys bash not remark connected pending cases.

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Joseph Hertgen was pronounced dormant astatine the scene, and his autopsy results are pending. Local and authorities officials are investigating the 26-year-old's decease arsenic a homicide.

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Joseph and Matthew Hertgen were prima shot players successful precocious schoolhouse and college. They were some athletes astatine Toms River High School, and Matthew went connected to survey astatine Wesleyan University successful Connecticut. Joseph Hertgen was recruited to play shot astatine the University of Michigan.