The Disappearance of Brian Shaffer
A photo of Brian Shaffer before his disappearance in 2006. Photo: All That’s Interesting.
Brian Shaffer was a student at Ohio State University who disappeared while drinking with friends one evening. He has never been seen since. What could have happened to Brian Shaffer?
The day of Brian Shaffer’s Dissappearance
Brian Shaffer grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He went to Ohio State University where he completed a degree in microbiology. He began medical school at OSU in 2004 and was in his second year when he disappeared.
His mother who he was close with died in March 2006 of myelodysplasia.
On March 31st Brian had dinner with his father, Randy, to celebrate the end of classes for the spring. Randy noticed Brian seemed exhausted after working hard all semester. Brian told his dad he planned to go out with a friend later on. Randy thought Brian was too tired and it wasn’t a good idea but didn’t say anything to his son.
Later that evening Brian met up with his friend Clint Florence. They met at a bar called the Ugly Tuna Saloona at 9pm and had a few drinks. They continued bar hopping around the area for a few hours.
While out drinking Brian called his girlfriend, Alexis Waggoner, and spoke to her about their upcoming trip to Miami.
After midnight Clint and Brian met up with their friend Meredith Reed and made their way back to the Ugly Tuna Saloona. While they were there Brian slipped away from his friends. They looked for him and attempted to call him several times but he wouldn’t pick up. When the bar closed they waited outside for Brian but he was no where to be seen. They assumed he must have made his way home on his own.
Brian’s girlfriend and his Dad called him several times over the weekend but were unable to reach him. When he didn’t show up for his flight to Miami on Monday they knew something was seriously wrong and called the police.
The investigation into Brian Shaffer’s Disappearance
A screenshot of the footage of Brian Shaffer entering the Ugly Tuna Saloona. Photo: All That’s Interesting.
Police began their investigation at the Ugly Tuna Saloona. Brian could be seen on security footage entering the bar with his friends at 1.15am. He was also seen chatting with two other women just before 2 am. This was the last time he was seen on camera. The bar closed at 2am and all of the other patrons were seen filtering out but Brian was nowhere to be seen.
Police surveyed footage from other security cameras in the area but were unable to find any other footage of Brian after he was seen chatting with the women.
Police interviewed everyone Brian had seen that night but didn’t find any credible leads. They were all asked to take lie detector tests and all passed except Clint Florence who refused to be polygraphed.
Brian Shaffer with his girlfriend Alexis Waggoner.
Photo: All That’s Interesting.
Brian’s girlfriend continued to call his phone every night in the hope that one day he would pick up. After several weeks instead of going straight to voicemail the phone rang several times first, pinging off of a cell tower 14 miles north-west of Columbus, near Hilliard.
Police investigated this coming to the conclusion that is was a glitch with the cell phone provider.
Brian’s Dad, Randy, continued to search for his son until his death in 2008. On his online obituary page someone left a note saying "To Dad, love Brian (U.S. Virgin Islands)". Police investigated and found that the message had been left from a public computer in Franklin County and was probably a hoax.
Theories About the Dissappearance of Brian Shaffer
Several theories have been floated surrounding the fate of Brian Shaffer.
His disappearance was connected with the Smiley Face Murders; a series of murders of college aged men who were all later found in bodies of water near smiley face graffiti.
There is a theory that Brian disappeared of his own accord and wanted to leave his old life behind. Even though he was studying medicine he as a laid back man who would have preferred to start a band and live by the coast. Brian’s credit cards and bank accounts have not been accessed since his disappearance which makes this unlikely.
The area where Brian disappeared is known as a high crime area. It is possible that he was killed in a robbery gone wrong or became the victim of some other crime resulting in his death.
What do you think happened to Brian Shaffer? Let us know in the comments!
If you enjoyed this article you may also be interested in some other people have disappeared mysteriously: Lars Mittank and Vladimir Bastl.
