Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau tragically lost their lives on August 29 while biking in their hometown the night before their sister’s wedding.
A grand jury has officially charged Sean M. Higgins in the heartbreaking deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, two brothers killed in a tragic accident the night before their sister’s wedding.
According to court records in Salem County, New Jersey, the 44-year-old Higgins was indicted on several charges, including first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree reckless vehicular homicide, and second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He also faces a charge of tampering with evidence.
The accident occurred on August 29, when Johnny and Matthew were biking along Country Route 551 North just after 8 p.m. Investigators say Higgins, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, attempted to pass another car and struck the brothers.
Police body cam footage released earlier this month shows a visibly shaken Higgins during his arrest. “I’m just freaked out,” he told officers as they conducted sobriety tests. In the footage, Higgins admitted to drinking “five or six Miller Lites” earlier that day but claimed he hadn’t had a drink in a couple of hours. At one point, he asked officers, “Is everybody okay back there? What happened?”
The brothers had come to town to be groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding. Their deaths have left a deep void in their family, including Matthew’s pregnant wife, Madeline, and Johnny’s wife, Meredith, who is expecting their third child. Johnny and Meredith already have two young children, a 1-year-old daughter Noa and a 7-month-old son Johnny.
In the midst of their grief, the Gaudreau family has leaned on each other for support. On December 3, they traveled to Calgary to honor Johnny’s legacy during a special pre-game ceremony before a hockey match between his two former teams, the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Meredith and her two children took part in the ceremony by dropping the puck.
Higgins’ attorney, Matthew Portella, has stated that they are awaiting more evidence and refrained from discussing the details of the case. “It would be unfair to Mr. Higgins and the public to make a statement until a full review has been completed,” he said.
For now, the Gaudreau family continues to navigate this unimaginable loss, holding onto their shared memories and supporting one another as they face the future without Johnny and Matthew.
