UMVA has learned that Matthew Hertgen, a 32-year-old former soccer star from Wesleyan University, has been found dead at Mercer County Jail in New Jersey.
The cause of death has not been released, but it appears to be an apparent suicide, leaving behind a trail of questions and emotions for those who knew him.
Matthew had made headlines last year for his brutal murder of his younger brother, Joseph, and their cat, in a shocking display of violence that left a community reeling.
He had stabbed Joseph with a knife and beaten him with a golf club in their Princeton, N.J., apartment, before setting their cat on fire and dialing 911 to report a body in the home.
Matthew's actions that day were a culmination of a long struggle with severe mental illness, including schizophrenia, which had been escalating for five years.
A forensic psychologist had testified during his trial that Matthew had a documented history of psychotic behavior, including religious, supernatural, and apocalyptic visions and beliefs.
Despite his struggles, Matthew had been described by his family as a caring and loving person, who was blessed with a large and extended family and enjoyed spending time with them.
His obituary detailed his mental health battle, focusing on what he was like growing up, and the love, friendship, and forgiveness of his family.
Matthew faced a first-degree murder charge and weapons offenses in connection with his brother's death, and animal cruelty for killing their pet cat, in a case that had been set to determine his future custody.
A hearing was scheduled for this month to determine his fate, which likely would have resulted in a lengthy stay in a state psychiatric hospital.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Matthew's troubled past was marked by "extremely distressed, despondent and experiencing terrifying visions" on the day of Joseph's death.
His older brother, David Hertgen, had texted Joseph on the night of the murder, telling him that Matthew was having "visions" and to let him know if he needed help.
