Sean Higgins vehicular homicide case
Sean Higgins, 43, charged with two counts of death by auto for allegedly consuming alcohol before a crash that killed brothers Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau, is challenging blood alcohol test results and evidence collection in Salem County, New Jersey. As of April 15, 2026: Higgins' legal team argues a partial blood test showing .087 BAC was plasma-only, with a full test at .075, below New Jersey's legal limit of .08. A judge has ruled Higgins' statements, including an admission of "hitting" the brothers, can be used as evidence, and a pre-trial conference is scheduled for April 14, 2026. Higgins faces up to 70 years if convicted, having previously rejected a plea deal for a 35-year sentence. A New Jersey morgue assistant was fired for leaking confidential details about the Gaudreau brothers' deaths.
Timeline
Want updates on this thread?
Track this story2026
14 updates
2026
14 updatesSean Higgins' legal team is challenging the prosecution's use of blood alcohol test results, arguing a partial test showing .087 BAC was plasma-only and a full test would have been .075. The defense is also disputing evidence collection, including the search of Higgins' vehicle and its event data recorder, and has previously rejected a plea deal for a 35-year sentence.
A dispute over blood alcohol content evidence has re-emerged in the Sean Higgins case, with the defense arguing a discrepancy between test results may have prejudiced the grand jury. A judge has requested the prosecution review the defense expert's report for accuracy, as Higgins faces up to 70 years if convicted.
via boston25news.com
A judge ruled that Sean Higgins' statements, including an admission of "hitting" the brothers, can be used as evidence at trial, deeming them voluntary. The next court date is April 14, 2026, for a pre-trial conference and a motion to dismiss the indictment.
via fox29.com
A New Jersey morgue assistant was fired for sharing confidential details about the Gaudreau brothers' deaths, a breach the Civil Service Commission upheld. The Sean Higgins case is progressing towards a pre-trial conference, with the next one scheduled for April 14, 2026.
Sean Higgins, 43, has been charged with two counts of death by auto for allegedly consuming alcohol before a crash that killed brothers Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau. Recent footage shows Higgins expressing frustration at being detained. The brothers were cycling in Salem County, New Jersey, when they were struck and killed.
via CNN·marqueur.com
A New Jersey death investigator has been terminated for leaking details of the Sean Higgins crash case to a group chat, which were then posted on social media. The Civil Service Commission opted for termination despite an administrative law judge recommending a six-month suspension.
Sean Higgins's attorneys are seeking to dismiss the case, arguing new testing shows his blood-alcohol level was .075, below New Jersey's legal limit of .08. This contradicts earlier prosecution claims of .087 and suggests the grand jury was presented with incorrect information. A judge is set to rule on the motion.
via youtube.com
The Superior Court's Appellate Division denied Sean Higgins' request to pursue an interlocutory appeal concerning the suppression of statements he made to police following the crash that killed brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. The court found the defense had not shown sufficient justification to overcome the ruling.
Attorneys for Sean Higgins, accused of killing brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, are seeking to dismiss the case, presenting new evidence that challenges the claim Higgins was driving drunk. Prosecutors had previously stated Higgins' blood-alcohol level exceeded New Jersey's legal limit following the August 29, 2024, crash.
Plea negotiations are ongoing in the case of Sean Higgins, accused of killing brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. The defense has submitted a counteroffer and is also disputing the release of vehicle data for accident reconstruction. A judge previously upheld all charges against Higgins on April 15, 2025, rejecting the defense's argument that the brothers' drinking contributed to their deaths.
via reddit.com
Sean Higgins' lawyers presented new evidence on February 24, 2026, suggesting he was not driving drunk during the August 2024 crash that killed brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. A test indicated his blood alcohol level was .075, below New Jersey's legal limit, contradicting prosecutors' earlier statements.
Prince Harry has accused the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), of making his wife Meghan's life "an absolute misery" and using unlawful information gathering methods. Former editor Paul Dacre has resumed giving evidence in the High Court, categorically denying allegations of unlawful behavior at the paper.
In the case of Sean Higgins, a New Jersey judge denied a motion seeking to file an appeal on January 15, 2026. Previously, on January 7, 2025, Higgins had pleaded not guilty to all charges, and on April 15, 2025, a judge upheld all charges against him, rejecting the defense's argument about the victims' drinking.
A discretionary conference scheduled for December 15 was adjourned with no new date set in the case of Sean M. Higgins.
via njcourts.gov
2025
9 updates
2025
9 updatesAn Appellant Brief was filed in the case.
via whyy.org·cbsnews.com·cbsnews.com·youtube.com·phillyvoice.com
A New Jersey judge has refused to suppress evidence in the case against Sean Higgins, who is accused of fatally striking NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew while driving drunk. Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio ruled on November 10, 2025, that statements Higgins made after the crash, indicating he felt he needed a lawyer, will remain admissible in his trial.
A New Jersey judge has ruled that statements made by Sean Higgins after the crash will be admissible as evidence in his trial. The judge also rejected the defense's argument that the victims' own drinking contributed to their deaths, upholding all charges against Higgins.
A hearing was held to determine if statements made by Sean Higgins to police after the crash could be used as evidence, with the defense arguing his Miranda rights were violated.
via whyy.org·cbsnews.com·cbsnews.com·youtube.com·phillyvoice.com
Motions to suppress statements and data were filed by the defense.
via whyy.org·cbsnews.com·cbsnews.com·youtube.com·phillyvoice.com
In the case against Sean Higgins, accused of killing the Gaudreau brothers, a motion has been filed concerning the admissibility of bloodwork evidence, with Higgins' alleged blood alcohol level at 0.087. Separately, a judge denied motions to dismiss charges and noted that Higgins had previously rejected a plea deal. These developments occurred prior to the existing timeline of court proceedings.
Sean Higgins' defense is arguing for the indictment against him to be thrown out, claiming prosecutors withheld information about the Gaudreau brothers' alleged intoxication during the grand jury hearing.
Sean Higgins, the driver accused in the deaths of brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, rejected a plea deal on January 7, 2025. He appeared in court on October 29, 2025, for a Miranda hearing to determine the admissibility of statements he made to police following the crash.
Sean Higgins pleaded not guilty to all charges and rejected a plea offer that would have resulted in a 35-year prison sentence.
via whyy.org·cbsnews.com·cbsnews.com·youtube.com·phillyvoice.com
2024
6 updates
2024
6 updatesSean M. Higgins was indicted on charges including two counts of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide and two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in December 2024 in connection with the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. He pleaded not guilty in January 2025, and in August 2025, a judge denied motions to suppress evidence against him. These developments precede the ongoing legal arguments regarding his blood alcohol level.
via dailyvoice.com
A grand jury indicted Sean Higgins on charges including reckless vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, tampering with evidence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
via whyy.org·cbsnews.com·cbsnews.com·youtube.com·phillyvoice.com
Newly released body camera footage shows Sean Higgins' arrest, depicting him struggling with a field sobriety test and admitting to consuming beers before the crash.
via tmz.com
Sean Higgins, accused of fatally striking brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, will remain in jail until his trial. A judge made this decision on September 13, 2024. Prosecutors allege Higgins had a blood alcohol level of .087%, above New Jersey's legal limit of 0.08%, after consuming five to six beers.
A judge ordered Higgins to be detained until trial, and prosecutors revealed his blood alcohol content was .087%, exceeding New Jersey's legal limit.
via whyy.org·cbsnews.com·cbsnews.com·youtube.com·phillyvoice.com
Sean Higgins was held at Salem County Correctional Facility, awaiting a detention hearing scheduled for September 5.
via whyy.org·cbsnews.com·cbsnews.com·youtube.com·phillyvoice.com
Story began · 1 year, 7 mo ago