On March 31, 2006, Brian Shaffer vanished after he was captured on camera entering a bar, but was never recorded leaving. At the time, he was a 27-year-old medical student at Ohio State University. At the beginning of spring break, Brian went bar hopping with his friend William “Clint” Florence. Brian’s girlfriend, Alexis Waggoner, was out of town that weekend, so around 10 p.m. that evening, Brian called her. Alexis would later tell police that she received a voicemail from Brian and that he sounded fine. Another friend, Meredith Reed, ended up meeting Brian and Clint at the Ugly Tuna Saloona. One of multiple security cameras caught Brian walking into the establishment. Just after 1 a.m., Brian said he was going upstairs to see the band that was playing that night. He was last caught on camera stepping outside at 1:55 a.m., speaking with two young women, and then re-entering the bar. At 2 a.m., Clint and Meredith were getting ready to leave and began looking for Brian but couldn’t find him. They called him and left a voicemail, leaving a short time later. Cameras captured the pair leaving the bar. Brian was never seen again on camera leaving through any entrance or exit. Both bar exits were covered by cameras, as was the escalator that led to the street. When Brian was still missing the following day, police were called. The Columbus Police Department conducted an investigation and the incident gained national media attention. There has been a lot of speculation as to what happened to Brian that day, but 19 years later the police are no closer to solving the case. Police say the case is periodically reviewed, but there are no updates at this time. At the time of his disappearance, Brian was 6’2”, around 165 pounds, and had brown hair and hazel eyes. He had a Pearl Jam tattoo on his upper right arm and a dot on the iris of his left eye. He was last seen wearing jeans, a blue or green striped shirt and tennis shoes. Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Brian Shaffer is urged to call the Columbus Police Department at 614-645-4545 or the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 614-461-8477.
