Jury Finds Evesham Man Guilty of Killing Friend and his Dog

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Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw introduced {that a} 26-year-old Evesham man was discovered responsible yesterday in Superior Court of fatally stabbing a pal, in addition to his canine, whereas robbing him in early 2022.

After deliberating for simply over an hour, a jury returned responsible verdicts towards Donovan G. Hollingsworth on costs of Murder (First Degree), Robbery (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Third Degree), Cruelty to Animals (Third Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Fourth Degree). The Hon. Christopher J. Garrenger, J.S.C., scheduled sentencing for October 27 on the Burlington County Courthouse in Mount Holly. Hollingworth has been lodged within the Burlington County Jail since his arrest a number of hours after the slayings.

The investigation started the morning of February 5, 2022, when officers from the Evesham Township Police Department had been referred to as to the Olympus Apartments on Baker Boulevard for a report of a attainable canine assault on a resident. When officers arrived, they found Thomas Pierson III, 26, of Evesham, deceased inside his residence with a number of stab wounds.

The sufferer’s canine, a Cane Corso named Django, was discovered lifeless – additionally with stab wounds – on a stairwell touchdown. The investigation revealed that Hollingsworth traveled to Pierson’s residence with the intention of robbing him. An altercation ensued, throughout which Hollingsworth stabbed Pierson and Django. Hollingsworth fled and was later taken into custody by Evesham Township cops on the emergency room of Virtua Voorhees Hospital, the place he had gone for therapy of minor accidents.

The investigation was performed by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Evesham Township Police Department. The lead investigators had been BCPO Detective Sergeant Brian Cunningham and ETPD Detective Joseph Magnus.

Hollingsworth was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutors Bob VanGilst and Jasmine Bealor. Assistant Prosecutor VanGilst supervises the BCPO Major Crimes Unit.