A 27-year-old New Jersey man has been sentenced to 34 years in state prison for fatally stabbing a friend, as well as his dog, while robbing him in early 2022.
Donovan G. Hollingsworth, 27, was convicted by a jury in August.
The investigation began the morning of February 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.
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When officers arrived, they discovered Thomas Pierson III, 26, of Evesham, deceased inside his residence with multiple stab wounds.
The victim’s dog, a Cane Corso named Django, was found dead – also with stab wounds – on a stairwell landing.
The investigation revealed that Hollingsworth traveled to Pierson’s apartment intending to rob him.
An altercation ensued, during which Hollingsworth stabbed Pierson and Django.
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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 (NJ) Department. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Sergeant Brian Cunningham and ETPD Detective Joseph Magnus.
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