Matthew Hertgen
Matthew Hertgen, 32, was described in his online obituary as a caring and loving person with a large extended family, who attended Wesleyan University, played soccer there, and later worked for many years in a senior finance role at a telecom company. He died at the Mercer County Jail in New Jersey on May 8, 2026. According to PEOPLE, citing a jail spokesperson, the apparent cause was suicide, but the jail said the official cause and manner of death are pending autopsy results. His family has spoken publicly about his years of struggle with severe mental illness and asked that donations be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Mercer County in his honor.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide. PEOPLE reports an apparent suicide, citing a jail spokesperson, but the jail says the official cause awaits autopsy results.
Reported by: PEOPLE (reporters).