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After deliberating for just over an hour, a jury returned guilty verdicts against Donovan G. Hollingsworth, 26, on charges of murder, robbery, cruelty to animals and weapons offenses. Sentencing is set for Oct. 27.
The investigation began the morning of Feb. 5, 2022, when officers from the Evesham Township Police Department were called to the Olympus Apartments on Baker Boulevard for a report of a possible dog attack on a resident.
When officers arrived, they discovered Thomas Pierson III, 26, of Evesham, deceased inside his residence with multiple stab wounds, according to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw.
The victim’s dog, a Cane Corso named Django, was found dead— also with stab wounds — on a stairwell landing, the prosecutor said.
The investigation revealed that Hollingsworth traveled to Pierson’s apartment with the intention of robbing him, she said.
An altercation ensued, during which Hollingsworth stabbed Pierson and Django.
Hollingsworth fled and was later taken into custody by Evesham Township police officers at the emergency room of Virtua Voorhees Hospital, where he had gone for treatment of minor injuries.
The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Evesham Township Police Department. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Sergeant Brian Cunningham and ETPD Detective Joseph Magnus.
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