Tragic Death of Man with Schizophrenia in Jail

A 32-year-old man from Princeton, New Jersey, diagnosed with schizophrenia and found not guilty by reason of insanity, died in jail after being charged with the violent murder of his brother, which included grotesque acts of cannibalism. This shocking incident unfolded during what appeared to be a psychotic episode.

Matthew Hertgen was discovered deceased in Mercer County Jail on May 8, as reported by the county prosecutor’s office. The announcement came just days later, highlighting the startling nature of his death.

In mid-March, during a jury trial, a New Jersey judge declared Hertgen not guilty by reason of insanity. At the time of his passing, he was awaiting formal sentencing and a transfer to a psychiatric facility, though New Jersey laws could allow him to remain incarcerated indefinitely based on his mental state.

The official cause of his death hasn’t been released, but there are indications that it might have been suicide. Notably, just a week after his arrest in February 2025, Hertgen had attempted to take his own life in his cell.

This tragic story sheds light on how schizophrenia, an often misunderstood and challenging mental illness, can profoundly disrupt lives—not only for those afflicted but also for their families and friends.

Despite his mental health struggles, media outlets often referred to him as the “Preppy Princeton Killer.”

Hertgen’s mental health issues reportedly began while he was living in New York City in 2021, soon after graduating from Wesleyan University. He even enjoyed a successful position as a vice president at a telecommunications firm prior to his decline.

In early 2025, he brutally attacked his brother Joseph in their family’s Princeton apartment, beating him with a golf club and stabbing him, leading to a gruesome scene where police later discovered his brother’s body alongside a bloody knife and fork.

Authorities suspect that Hertgen may have consumed parts of Joseph’s body. During the trial, a forensic psychologist testified about the severe delusions Hertgen experienced, claiming he had “prophetic and divine visions,” describing the illness as among the most severe he’d encountered.

At trial, it was explained that Hertgen’s delusions led him to believe he was various religious figures, including God, and that he felt he possessed “multiple souls.” These overwhelming thoughts were reportedly so powerful that they left him feeling beyond the help of medication or therapy.

In his troubled mind, he believed that the world was nearing its end, feeling compelled to commit “sacrificial murder” to save it. His delusions intensified after he read a portion of a book by Carl Jung that seemed to resonate with his disturbed thinking.

Before his mental health issues took over, Hertgen had what many would consider a normal childhood in a well-off family in Toms River, New Jersey. Later, they moved to an upscale apartment in Princeton.

In a heartfelt obituary, Hertgen’s family chose to remember him as a “caring and loving person.” They reflected on his achievements, including his time at Wesleyan, where he played soccer and graduated with a degree in microbiology and biochemistry, before moving into a corporate role in telecommunications.

However, they also acknowledged the severe mental health challenges he faced in his later years and expressed their love and regrets for his struggles. They concluded the obituary by requesting donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Mercer County, New Jersey.