Burlington County Man, Dog Fatally Stabbed, Acquaintance Charged With Murder: Prosecutor

EVESHAM TOWNSHIP, NJ — An Evesham man has been charged with murder after another Evesham man and his dog were found stabbed to death Friday, Burlington County authorities said.

Donovan G. Hollingsworth, 25, of Crest Road in Evesham, was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was being held in the Burlington County Jail pending a detention hearing, Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Evesham Township Acting Chief of Police Walter Miller said in announcing the charges.

Police were called to the Olympus Apartments on Baker Boulevard in Evesham at 9:13 a.m. Friday for a report of a possible dog attack. They found Thomas Pierson III, 26, of Evesham, dead in the apartment, with multiple stab wounds, authorities said.

Pierson's dog, a Cane Corso named Django, was found dead on a stairwell landing, and also had stab wounds. Potential charges related to Django’s death await further investigation into the incident, authorities said.

An autopsy on Pierson was expected to be performed by the Burlington County Medical Examiner’s Office today.

Authorities said the investigation shows Hollingsworth stabbed Pierson and Django after a fight in the apartment. The two men knew each other, authorities said.

Hollingsworth left the apartment and was arrested about noon Friday by Evesham Township police at Virtua Voorhees Hospital, where Hollingsworth went for treatment for minor injuries from the fight.

The lead investigators in the case are Detective Brian Cunningham of the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office and Evesham Township Detective Joseph Magnus.