The Princeton soccer star accused of murdering his brother appears to have been cut off by his rich parents.
Matthew Hertgen, 31, appeared in Mercer County Superior Court on Thursday morning for a detention hearing, but there was no sign of his parents Debra, 56 and David, 60.
What’s more, he was represented by a public defender, rather than a hotshot lawyer paid for by his wealthy parents.
The former Wesleyan athlete has been charged with first-degree murder, various weapons offenses and animal cruelty for allegedly killing his younger brother, Joseph, 27, and setting their family cat on fire during the heinous February 22 crime.
A heavily-bearded Hertgen was dressed in an orange jumpsuit with his handcuffed hands on his lap as he went before Judge Wilson. He appeared alert and engaged despite his attempt to take his own life and hang himself in his cell last week.
Hertgen waived his rights to a hearing and consented to detention voluntarily.
Despite his family’s vast wealth, Matthew’s father David Hertgen, a tech mogul that runs a multi-million dollar company, there was no family members or friends present, including his older brother David, 34.
Before the session ended, the public defender told Hertgen, ‘Just because I represent you, you can always choose to hire a private attorney to assert your appellate rights.’
Matthew Hertgen appears in Mercer County Criminal Court for a pretrial detention hearing after he was arrested and charged with killing his brother and eating his eyeballs
Matthew Hertgen, 31, appeared in Mercer County Superior Court on Thursday morning for a detention hearing, but there was no sign of his parents Debra, 56 and David, 60, seen with his late brother, above
Last week, Matey alluded to the fact that he had no idea if Hertgen’s parents were going to hire a private attorney.
When asked how his client was doing he told DailyMail.com that ‘it was too early on in the ligation.
He further stated: ‘I don’t have any comment yet in regard to the facts or what will transpire.’
Matthew beat his younger brother, Joseph, 27, a former soccer player and scholar to death with a golf club and a knife inside the family’s luxury Princeton residences.
The 31-year-old allegedly beat Joseph, 27, to death with a golf club and a knife inside the family’s luxury Princeton apartment on February 22
Matthew Hertgen appears in Mercer County Criminal Court for a pretrial detention hearing after he was arrested and charged with killing his brother and eating his eyeballs
When officers responded to the scene, they found Matthew (pictured), who had called 911, in the residence along with the beaten and cut up body of the victim and a dead cat
One day before the brutal murder, heavily bearded Matthew posted a chilling selfie on Facebook of himself – laying expressionless on the floor next to a cat toy that costs $7.99 from PetSmart. He is also accused of setting the cat on fire
A realtor for the area told DailyMail.com that the apartment the brothers were living in was a rental. The monthly rate is between $6,000-7,000 a month
It was alleged that he set the cat on fire and also tore out his brother’s eye and ate it.
Joseph graduated from the University of Michigan with a business administration degree.
After graduation, he went on to work at Locust Point Capital, a financial company, as a portfolio manager in 2023.
On Saturday, the Hertgen family gathered at St. Luke Roman Catholic Church in Toms River for Joseph’s funeral and to say their final goodbyes.
There was no mention of Matthew in Joseph’s obituary that was posted on Legacy.com.
Matthew faces up to life in prison if convicted on the murder charges.
The judge set his next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. March 24.
