Beyond the Headline

Man kills brother, eats his eyeball and lights the family cat ablaze...

WOW, this is a tough one.

According to KATU ABC2, Matthew Hertgen was found dead in his jail cell on May 8, 2026. Hertgen had been accused of killing his brother with golf clubs in a case so horrifying it barely feels real. Reports also alleged acts of extreme violence toward the family cat.

What sounds like it was once a loving, wholesome family was instead devastated by one of the most frightening diagnoses and outcomes imaginable.

I do not think schizophrenia is talked about nearly enough — especially the fact that its onset most commonly occurs between the ages of 16 and 30, or that people living with schizophrenia are statistically far more likely to become victims of violence than perpetrators of it.

Unfortunately, headlines like this are the ones that shape public perception and deepen fear surrounding severe mental illness.

At the same time, it is also clear that this was a man who was profoundly unwell. Hertgen had reportedly been deemed incompetent to stand trial, and despite the horrific nightmare this family endured, reports indicate they had still forgiven him.

Now, with what authorities suspect may have been suicide, that same family is left grieving all over again.

Organizations like CURESZ Foundation work to reduce stigma surrounding schizophrenia and other serious brain disorders while advocating for education, treatment, research, recovery, and support for families navigating these illnesses.