CALVERT COUNTY, Md. — The Reedsville man accused of killing a well-known Washington, D.C. area photographer last year will head to trial on March 31, 2025.

Brandon R. Holbrook rejected a potential plea deal in Calvert County Circuit Court on Sept. 16, 2024. He has been in custody for the murder of Joseph A. Shymanski since last year and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.

On Nov. 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 Sept. 3, 2023, when Shymanski was reported missing to police by family and friends.

According to court documents, a grand jury charged Holbrook with single counts of murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, firearm use in a violent crime and altering physical evidence in a criminal process.

Holbrook is accused of driving from his home in Mifflin County to Shymanski’s home in Huntingtown, Md., reportedly shooting and killing the photographer in his driveway.

Investigators said doorbell video and license plate readers placed Holbrook’s truck at Shymanski’s home shortly after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots.

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

Investigators said video from a local retail store shows Holbrook discarding human remains outside the store where he bought cleaning supplies. Investigators soon discovered Shymanski’s burnt remains in the woods behind Holbrook’s home.

Court documents also revealed that forensic experts used dental records to positively identify Shymansky.

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.

Media outlets reported Holbrook’s attorneys argued prosecutors don’t know how Shymanski actually died, don’t have any witnesses who saw Holbrook with Shymanski and don’t have any witnesses to prove it was Holbrook driving his truck when it was spotted in Maryland.

The 10-day jury trial from March 31, 2025, through April 11, 2025.