Man accused of killing well-known DC photographer gets trial date in 2025

CALVERT COUNTY, Md. — The man accused of killing a well-known D.C. photographer last year will head to trial in 2025. Brandon Holbrook rejected a potential plea deal in a Calvert County courtroom Monday. Holbrook has been in custody for the murder of Joe Shymanski since last year.

On November 20, 2023, Holbrook was indicted by a Calvert County grand jury and charged with the murder and dismemberment of Shymanski. The case dates back to Labor Day weekend in 2023 when family and friends of Shymanski reported him missing to police.

According to court documents, Holbrook is accused of driving from his home in Reedsville, Pennsylvania to Shymanski’s home in Calvert County, reportedly shooting and killing the photographer in his driveway. Doorbell video and license plate readers placed Holbrook’s truck at Shymanski’s home shortly after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots. 

The prosecution alleges that Holbrook loaded Shymanski’s body into his pickup truck and drove him back to Pennsylvania after the shooting. Video from a Pennsylvania gas station shows Holbrook driving his truck that night near Reedsville. 

Investigators say more video from a nearby Weis Market shows Holbrook discarding human remains outside the store where he bought cleaning supplies. In the following days, investigators found Shymanski’s burnt remains in the woods behind Holbrook’s home. 

When trying to connect Shymanski with Holbrook, detectives discovered that Holbrook used to date Shymanski’s ex-wife. The two split and she began to “distance herself” from Holbrook prior to the shooting. It is unknown if the breakup was the reason for the murder. 

On Monday, a judge set a trial date for Holbrook of March 31, 2025.