NJ - Man rips out brother's eye and eats it after killing him; sets family cat on fire - Princeton, Feb. 22, 2025

[Clearsky]

Exclusive | Preppy Princeton murder suspect Matthew Hertgen ripped out brother’s eye and ate it after killing him: source

Officers also found a bloody knife, fork and plate near victim Joseph Hertgen’s body, the source said — which has led cops to believe accused killer Matthew Hertgen, 31, consumed the missing organ.…

nypost.com

Matthew Hertgen also set the family cat on fire during his twisted rampage, sources said — several months after posting a chilling poem to Facebook that included lines about “knives sharpening” and “blood oozing out of his eyes.”

 

[neondreams]

Oh my god. What a horrible thing to read, both about Joseph and the pet cat. I hope this Matthew guy gets the maximum sentence possible, on all charges. Poor family. To have a family member murdered is one thing, but to learn the family member was killed by another member (who also took another life, that of the surely innocent cat, who was also loved) must be another thing altogether, especially with the grisly details. Horrific, sad, and senseless.

 

[Sarahlou]

Oh god that's horrific. He must be completely insane (to state the obvious)

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[MissMalowe]

I don't think I've ever had SO MANY questions after reading just the headline.

Clearly this individual was very disturbed.... sudden psychotic break? Slow progression to becoming very mentally unwell? Did something happen between the brothers just before this? Long-standing issues? Just picked him that day because he was nearby? What is going on here?

 

[vls12345]

Man Received Warning Text Before He Was Allegedly Killed by Brother Who Was Suffering 'Terrifying Visions'

Joseph Hertgen received a text from his surviving brother warning about older brother Matthew Hertgen’s mental health about an hour before he was killed

people.com

The surviving brother had spent several hours with Matthew prior to the killing and described him as being “extremely distressed, despondent and experiencing terrifying visions,” NBC News reported.

He told authorities that Matthew had suffered from "severe mental illness" for five years.

 

[PaulaDC]

Any updates on this case. I know a friend who knows this family. Just curious.