Camden, NJ – After nearly 14 years of unanswered questions and enduring grief, justice is finally within reach for the family of Brian Holden, the victim of a fatal stabbing in Camden in 2011. Thanks to advancements in forensic science and tireless investigative work, DNA evidence has led to the arrest of Kenyar Hill, 46, who now faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the long-cold case.
The announcement was made by Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Camden County Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez, who confirmed that Hill appeared in Superior Court on July 2, 2025, where he was ordered to remain in custody at the Camden County Correctional Facility, pending trial. The murder charge was formally filed on June 26, 2025.
The Night of the Crime
The incident occurred on October 11, 2011, when Camden City Police officers were dispatched to an abandoned house on the 500 block of Mechanic Street following a report of a stabbing. Inside the home, officers discovered Brian Holden, 42, of Camden, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite being rushed to Cooper University Hospital, Holden was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators immediately began piecing together what had happened. According to statements from Holden’s girlfriend, she had met with the suspect earlier that evening and agreed to engage in sex for money. Following their encounter, an argument ensued in which Hill allegedly took his money back, leading the woman to call out for Holden. When Holden confronted Hill, the suspect allegedly stabbed him multiple times before fleeing the scene.
The woman was also transported to a hospital, where DNA evidence was collected during a sexual assault forensic examination. That evidence was submitted to the New Jersey State Police laboratory and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), but at the time, there were no matches.
A Break in the Case
It wasn’t until 2022 that the case saw its first major breakthrough. The State Police lab notified authorities that Hill had been identified as a “high stringency match” to the DNA profile obtained from the sexual assault kit. This prompted a renewed push by investigators to conclusively verify the match.
In 2023, detectives obtained a buccal swab from Hill and submitted it for comparison. Lab analysis confirmed that Hill was the source of the major DNA profile extracted from the forensic evidence collected in 2011. With the scientific results in hand, detectives resumed the investigation with renewed vigor—locating old witnesses, reconstructing the timeline, and corroborating the new findings with previously gathered testimony.
On June 27, 2025, Hill was taken into custody in Camden by members of the U.S. Marshal Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force – Camden Division. He has since been held without bail as he awaits legal proceedings.
A Community’s Long Road to Justice
For over a decade, the death of Brian Holden haunted his family and the Camden community. The long delay in bringing someone to justice underscores the complexities of cold case investigations and the crucial role DNA technology now plays in solving them.
“This arrest represents years of persistence and dedication,” said Prosecutor MacAulay. “While we cannot undo the pain suffered by Mr. Holden’s family, we hope this development brings a measure of closure and the possibility of justice.”
Authorities continue to urge anyone with additional information about the case to contact Sergeant Kevin Courtney of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office at (856) 225-8632 or submit tips anonymously at CAMDEN.TIPS.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.