Brian Shaffer - Missing Since Mar, 2006
Born in Pickerington, OH (basically a suburb of Columbus). Brian Shaffer's disappearance has baffled me, and everyone else since 2006. I am completely perplexed by this disappearance more than any other of similar story- Why? because it seems impossible that someone can vanish out of thin air. Read on.
Brian Shaffer
Brian with his mother
The jist of this story:
Brian goes into the bar with his friends ---- > (ON CAMERA)
He never leaves the bar (confirmed by camera) ---> Is never seen again.
okay.. WTF
Brian Shaffer was studying microbiology at the University of Ohio in 2006. Classes had just ended for spring break (the following week). Brian was seemingly very overworked and tired from cramming schoolwork in.. It is believed he was going out to let loose a bit.
Brian met a friend Florence at the Ugly Tuna Saloona (I believe now closed) . but pictured below Via Google Maps.
They went bar hopping around South Campus Gateway, and then returned to the Ugly Tuna Saloona.
Ugly Tuna Saloona is UPSTAIRS , and you need to take an escalator. The escalator journey is covered by CCTV.
This is where it gets weird... he is shown going up:
But in all the footage they have of the exit, he is never shown to leave..
The police went through EVERY single person entering the bar, and counted them leaving, and matched them leaving. They even went so exhaustive that they questioned one guy who wore a different sweater out that he wasn't wearing when he entered!
(Here is a video of someone retracing the exact steps)
Now I have heard that they footage could easily have been doctored by the bar and bar owners, if somehow they were involved nefariously. But then why would they hand over their bar to authorities and shut it down for 3 days while they combed the place? Unlikely, but possible.
His friends recall him being there for the duration of time they spent at the bar, he is briefly seen on camera talking to some girls outside the bar area. (But not leaving the premises)
So we are left with these possibilities:
- Brian left on his own
- Brian suffered an accident on premises and it was covered up
- Brian suffered foul play
Lets quickly review these,
1- Brian Left on his own
Ok so Brian had supposedly purchased an engagement ring for his girlfriend, and they had a planned trip to Miami on the following Monday.. It wasn't until he never showed up for his flight that he was declared a missing person. This is very uncommon behavior of someone planning their escape from their current life..but I guess it is possible. However it would take a lot of planning and also doesn't really explain his absence from the CCTV.
2. Brian suffered an accident on premises and it was covered up
I have always thought this was a very plausible explanation to everything, if something bad happens to him while he was a the bar, the bar would be liable, and therefore have every reason to cover it up. But how did they cover it up..
Would the bar 'take him out of the footage' leaving the bar with some skilled technical video work. Possible but unlikely, he is shown on the footage going in anyways! And it would take quite an accident to fault the bar in a wrongful death, and no cause to Brian at all. Still not sure..
3. Brian suffered Foul Play
This has to be it. If his body is not found, and no trace of him ever was- It means someone went out of the way to make sure he was never found, and that person/people are the clue (obviously). BUT (huge BUT), where did this happen? Did it happen in the bar for everyone to see ?? I doubt it.. Did it happen on the streets outside or in an alley , way more plausible. But if that's the case why doesn't it prove so on CCTV.
There is another accessible entrance at the rear of the bar, but it was not usually used by patrons..and it must then have a staircase to ground level.
My likely scenario --> He becomes confrontational with someone in the bar, it spills outside into the back and something bad happens. Problems with my scenario - why does no one recall an argument or fight? Why does no one seem him leave? I have no idea..
What do you think happened to Brian?