After more than 20 years, Bruce A. Cymanski, a 52-year-old man from Ocean County, has been convicted of the brutal murder, kidnapping, and rape of 17-year-old Nancy Noga, a Sayreville High School senior. Noga’s body was found in a wooded area behind a strip mall in Sayreville in January 1999, five days after she was reported missing.
The Cold Case That Haunted Sayreville
On January 7, 1999, Noga disappeared after she failed to return home from work. Her family immediately reported her missing, launching a search that ended tragically when her body was discovered on January 12. An autopsy revealed that Noga had died from blunt force trauma, and the case quickly became one of New Jersey’s most unsettling unsolved murders. For over two decades, authorities continued their efforts to find her killer.
Breakthrough Arrest Using Genetic Genealogy
In 2021, a major breakthrough in the case came when Bruce A. Cymanski was arrested at his home in Barnegat. Investigators identified Cymanski as the suspect using advanced genetic genealogy techniques. This cutting-edge technology, combining DNA analysis with genealogical data, has been instrumental in solving numerous cold cases across the country.
To learn more about how genetic genealogy is revolutionizing criminal investigations, visit Parabon NanoLabs.
Verdict and Sentencing
The trial, which began on October 1, 2024, lasted three weeks. Jurors ultimately found Cymanski guilty of first-degree murder, felony murder, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone expressed her gratitude to the law enforcement officers involved, including those from the Sayreville Police Department, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, and other agencies, for their relentless pursuit of justice in this case.
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Cymanski is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2025, and could face 30 years to life in prison. The conviction brings long-awaited closure to Noga’s family and the Sayreville community, reminding everyone that justice, no matter how delayed, is still possible.