Brandon Holbrook

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Though his motive still remains unclear, a Reedsville man was found guilty of the brutal murder of well-known Washington, D.C. photographer Joseph Shymanski on Wednesday.

Brandon R. Holbrook, who has been in custody since last year, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to Calvert County Circuit Court administrative officials.

Holbrook was convicted of murder, use of a firearm in a violent crime and altering physical evidence. Lesser offenses for first-degree assault and second degree assault were dropped with the murder conviction. His sentencing is scheduled for July 18.

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

Holbrook rejected a plea deal, opting for a jury trial in a Calvert County, Md., Circuit Courtroom.

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

The prosecution alleged Holbrook loaded Shymanski’s body into his pickup truck and drove him to Mifflin County 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 showed Holbrook discarding human remains outside the store where he bought cleaning supplies. Investigators also 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 reportedly began to “distance herself” from Holbrook prior to the shooting.