By: Richard L. Smith
More than two decades after the brutal murder of 17-year-old Nancy Noga, justice has been served. A Middlesex County jury has convicted Bruce A. Cymanski, 52, of Barnegat, for the 1999 murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault of the Sayreville high school senior.
The case began on January 7, 1999, when Noga was reported missing after failing to return home from work. 
Her disappearance sent shockwaves through the community, prompting an extensive search effort.
Tragically, five days later, on January 12, 1999, her lifeless body was discovered in a wooded area behind a strip mall on Ernston Road.
An autopsy later confirmed that she had died from blunt force trauma, the result of being struck with a heavy object.
Despite the passage of time, law enforcement never gave up on the case. For over two decades, investigators continued their pursuit of the truth, determined to bring Noga’s killer to justice.
After years of investigative work, a trial finally began on October 1, 2024, led by Assistant Prosecutor Katie Magee, section chief of the Major Crimes Unit, along with Assistant Prosecutors Alexander Battey and Nicolette Spallanzani.
The prosecution presented compelling evidence and testimony over a three-week trial, leading to a guilty verdict.
Cymanski was convicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping, and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
The decades-long investigation was a collaborative effort between the Sayreville Police Department, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences, and the Barnegat Police Department.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone acknowledged the unwavering dedication of both active and retired law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served.
Superior Court Judge Joseph Paone handed down a life sentence to Cymanski for first-degree murder, with a mandatory 30-year parole ineligibility period.
In addition, he was sentenced to 20 years for first-degree kidnapping, to run consecutively with the murder sentence, 15 years for first-degree aggravated sexual assault, and additional concurrent sentences for felony murder and weapons possession. 
This long-awaited conviction and sentencing mark the end of a 25-year pursuit of justice for Nancy Noga and her family.
Though the pain of her loss remains, her loved ones and the community can finally find solace in knowing that her killer has been held accountable.