Morgue Worker, 14, Reportedly Fired After Leaking Details of NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau’s Death

A New Jersey morgue employee’s firing has been upheld in court after he allegedly leaked details about the 2024 death of late NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, fellow hockey player Matthew Gaudreau.

The 14-year-old morgue employee reportedly shared details about the brothers’ deaths in a group chat with friends shortly after the Gaudreaus were brought to the morgue following their tragic bike accident the day before their sister’s wedding.

According to New Jersey newspaper The Courier-Post, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission upheld the decision to terminate the employee, who was seeking a lesser penalty for the incident.

The publication reported that the employee violated his nondisclosure agreement that he signed before taking the job by sharing “confidential information to his friend group.” One of those friends then allegedly shared the details on social media, prompting calls to the State Police from the media inquiring about the brothers’ deaths.

The employee reportedly texted his friends an image of his notes on the Gaudreaus’ deaths to his friends, who also played hockey, to inform them that he would not be attending a game that evening.

He did not have an explanation for why he decided to include his confidential notes in the text beyond being in disbelief and acting “out of emotion,” according to The Courier-Post.

Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were hit by an alleged drunk driver while they were on a bike ride in Oldmans Township the day before their sister was to get married.

Sean Higgins — who was charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and tampering with physical evidence — is seeking to have the charges dismissed, arguing that he was not drunk at the time of the incident, blaming a faulty blood alcohol test, according to the New York Times.

Johnny, who played for the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets, left behind daughter Noa, 3, son Johnny, 2, with his wife, Meredith, who gave birth to their second son, Carter, in April.

Matthew’s wife, Madeline, gave birth to their son, Tripp, four months after he died.