MOUNT HOLLY, NJ — A 26-year-old Evesham resident, Donovan G. Hollingsworth, was found guilty of fatally stabbing both a friend and his dog during a robbery earlier this year.
A jury convicted Hollingsworth on charges that include First Degree Murder, First Degree Robbery, and Third Degree Cruelty to Animals. The sentencing is scheduled for October 27 at the Burlington County Courthouse. Hollingsworth has been held at the Burlington County Jail since his arrest shortly after the incident.
The case originated on February 5, 2022, when Evesham Township Police responded to a possible dog attack at the Olympus Apartments. They discovered the victim, Thomas Pierson III, 26, dead from multiple stab wounds in his residence. The victim’s Cane Corso, Django, was also found dead from stab wounds in a stairwell landing.
Investigation revealed that Hollingsworth had gone to Pierson’s apartment with the intent to rob him. During an altercation, Hollingsworth stabbed both Pierson and Django. Hollingsworth was later arrested at Virtua Voorhees Hospital, where he sought treatment for minor injuries.