Family of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Watch as Driver Indicted for Their Deaths Pleads Not Guilty

Mar. 15, 2025

Sean M. Higgins.Photo:Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Matt Slocum/AP Photo

The family of the late NHL starJohnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthewlooked on Tuesday as theman charged with killing the brothersin an alleged drunk driving crash last August pleaded not guilty, according to reports.

Sean M. Higgins, 44, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 7 to charges related to the brothers’ Aug. 29 deaths, according toNJ.com, localNBC 10, andCBS News. Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were killed when Higgins allegedly drove into them while they were riding bikes together the night before their sister Katie’s wedding. Higgins was allegedly attempting to pass another vehicle in front of him and swerved around the car, striking the Gaudreau brothers, according to police.Higgins had a blood alcohol level of .087 when the crash occurred, the New Jersey State Prosecutor’s Officepreviously alleged, which is .007 over the state’s legal limit.

According toESPN, Higgins' defense attorneys claimed Tuesday that the Aug. 29 crash occurred because of “a combination of uniquely unfortunate circumstances unlikely to ever occur again.” Meanwhile, the outlet reported that state prosecutors at the hearing depicted Higgins, a married father of two, as having a history of road rage and of drinking up to six beers before the crash.

Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Gaudreau.Christian Petersen/Getty; Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty

Christian Petersen/Getty; Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty

The outlet reported that state prosecutors offered Higgins a plea deal which included him serving two consecutive 15-year prison sentences if he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charges. The offer also included him pleading guilty to the charge for leaving the scene of a fatal accident, which would have added five additional years onto his sentence, bringing the total number of years served to 35.

NJ.com reports that Higgins pleaded not guilty instead and will now return to court Feb. 4. The Gaudreau family was present at Tuesday’s hearing, according to the outlet, and Higgins kept his head lowered throughout the hearing.

Kirk Irwin/NHLI via Getty

The Gaudreau family has been present at a number of memorials for the brothers, including ceremonies at games for Johnny’s former teams the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames. The family has said they are going through a “very difficult period of grief” following the brothers’ deaths,calling it“a tragic and unfathomable loss.”

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Johnny and his wife Meredith Gaudreau shared two children together: daughter Noa, 2, and son Johnny, who turns 1 in February. At his funeral, Meredith announced she is pregnant with the couple’s third child. Matthew’s widow, Madeline Gaudreau,gave birth to their first son Trippin December.

source: people.com