TRENTON, N.J. (Court TV) — A New Jersey man has been found not guilty by reason of insanity after brutally murdering his brother while experiencing psychotic delusions.
Matthew Hertgen appears in court for his murder trial on March 18, 2026. (Court TV)
Matthew Hertgen was charged with first-degree murder, weapons offenses and third-degree animal cruelty after killing his younger brother, Joseph Hertgen, with a knife and a golf club. At a bench hearing on Wednesday, Judge Robert Lytle agreed with experts from both prosecutors and the defense that the defendant was insane at the time of the killing.
Police were called to Joseph Hertgen’s home on Feb. 22, 2025, when Matthew Hertgen called 911 to report that his brother was dead on the floor and had been there for approximately 30 to 40 minutes. When dispatchers asked how the victim was hurt, Matthew Hertgen responded, “I’m not gonna go into any more details right now.”…