On July 18, 2025, Brandon Ross Holbrook, 49, of Reedsville, Pennsylvania, received a life sentence without parole in Calvert County Circuit Court for the murder and dismemberment of Washington, D.C., photographer Joseph Shymanski. Judge Mark S. Chandlee imposed the maximum penalty under Maryland law following Holbrook’s conviction on April 9, 2025, after an eight-day trial. The Holbrook sentencing marks the culmination of a high-profile case that began with Shymanski’s death on September 3, 2023.
Holbrook drove 200 miles from Reedsville to Shymanski’s Huntingtown, Maryland, home, where he shot and killed the 51-year-old in his driveway. He then transported Shymanski’s body back to Pennsylvania, dismembered it with a power saw, burned the remains in a metal barrel, and scattered them near his property. Holbrook attempted to cover his tracks by cleaning his truck with bleach and using chicken organs to mask evidence. Despite no eyewitnesses, murder weapon, or intact body, prosecutors built a compelling case using forensic and surveillance evidence.
Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey praised Assistant State’s Attorneys Benjamin Lerner and Christopher Monte for their meticulous work. “Holbrook thought he could escape the consequences of his actions by dismembering and disposing of the body, but he was proven wrong,” Harvey said. “Today’s sentence will ensure that Holbrook spends the rest of his life in prison.” Forensic archaeologist Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat from Mercyhurst University assisted in recovering and identifying Shymanski’s remains, which were confirmed via dental records.
Surveillance footage, including license plate readers capturing Holbrook’s truck leaving Calvert County on Route 4 at 5:36 p.m. on September 3, 2023, and gas station video from Reedsville, placed Holbrook at the crime scene. Additional footage showed him purchasing cleaning supplies and discarding remains near a Weis Market. The prosecution’s case, described as a “masterwork of criminal justice” by Harvey, left no doubt in the jury’s mind, leading to convictions for murder, firearm use, and evidence tampering.
The Holbrook sentencing drew significant attention, with Shymanski’s family and friends, united under “Justice for Joe,” attending the trial and sentencing. Ted Shymanski, the victim’s brother, spoke of the family’s devastation, noting Holbrook’s connection to Shymanski’s ex-wife, Heather Nichole Snyder, who reported him missing during a child custody exchange on September 4, 2023.Posts on X reflected community grief, with one user stating, “Community reactions show lingering questions, grief & suspicion”.
Shymanski, a father of two, was last seen helping a neighbor with a drywall project before gunshots were heard near his home. The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Ricky Cox, collaborated with Mifflin County police and the FBI to uncover evidence, including blood on Shymanski’s driveway and remains near Holbrook’s property. Holbrook’s defense, led by Brendan Callahan and Thomas Mooney, argued the evidence was circumstantial, but the jury’s verdict affirmed the prosecution’s narrative.
