A court in New Jersey has confirmed the dismissal of a morgue employee who disclosed details regarding hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother shortly after their tragic deaths.
Connor McGlynn, previously a mortuary assistant at the Gloucester County Coroner’s Office, sent a picture of a private note concerning Johnny and his brother Matthew to his hockey teammates on the night of the incident, where they were struck by a suspected drunk driver in August 2024. The Courier Post reported on this.
Without McGlynn’s consent, members of that group later shared the image on social media platforms like X and Reddit.
This snapshot contained personal information, including birth dates, home addresses, details about the accident, and contact numbers for the responding officers.
McGlynn was initially let go on September 23, 2024, but appealed the termination, as detailed in the news report.
A public hearing held by the New Jersey state commission resulted in a 3-2 vote on February 25 to uphold his firing, with meeting details released subsequently.
The ruling noted that McGlynn didn’t provide a satisfactory reason for sending the image, attributing his actions to disbelief and emotional response.
Sean Higgins, 45, faces charges for allegedly fatally hitting his brother and sister on August 29, 2024, while they were biking together in Oldsmans Township, New Jersey.
Prosecutors have mentioned that Higgins had a blood-alcohol level of 0.087, just above the legal limit. This finding is currently under legal scrutiny as they prepare for trial.
According to Higgins, he had consumed “five or six drinks” before the collision occurred as he tried to overtake a slower vehicle, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of the Gaudreau brothers, both of whom were family men.
Matthew, 29, and Johnny, 31, had blood alcohol readings of 0.129 or more at the time. They were in town for their sister’s wedding, scheduled for the following day.
Higgins had previously turned down a plea deal for a 35-year prison sentence, yet he has pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and related offenses.
If found guilty on all counts, he could face a maximum of 70 years in prison.
A court date for Higgins is set for April 14.
