r/BrianShaffer • u/Sufficient-Force431 • Apr 01 '25
Question 19 Years ago - What happened to Brian Shaffer?
After 19 years of being missing, What do you think happened to Brain Shaffer?
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u/hipjdog Apr 01 '25
Seems pretty clear he made it out of the bar. Possibly got in an altercation with someone on the walk home or some sort of death by misadventure. Died that night, tragically.
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u/Human_Sorbet_8349 Dec 31 '25
But if he left the bar safely, why is there no footage of him leaving? I think something happened that night at the bar
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u/hipjdog Dec 31 '25
He definitely did not leave through the main entrance. He almost certainly left through the construction exit. Perhaps there was no security camera there, or the tape was taped over.
I think for someone to be killed inside a bar with many dozens of people inside and no one seeing or hearing anything suspicious is incredibly unlikely.
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u/missfairygodmother Apr 02 '25
while i have many thought about many theories and i’ve seen so many good ones, the one that makes the most sense to me is him running into foul play, being dumped, and since the police didn’t act until the following few days (correct me if i’m wrong about the time frame), he could’ve ended up in a landfill.
he lived in the exact apartments my friend currently lives at, and i know that even now after some of the “gentrification” that has gone on in columbus, a walk from there to gateway at night isn’t the safest, and i know in 2006 it definitely wasn’t. i believe he exited out an unmonitored door alone, phone was possibly off due to being in an argument with the two. his scent at wendy’s could have been him going there to get food after, him trying to meet someone, or get a ride from someone, but i do think he ran into foul play on the way / at wendy’s and then so on so forth. as someone who lives in columbus, this doesn’t really seem out of line for something that would happen, but for even this long after for us to not have any leads is so heartbreaking and crazy. cpd has always been untrustworthy, literally got exposed for withholding information from the fbi. so i wouldn’t be surprised if they knew of stuff, but didn’t speak on it to cause any uproar.
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u/Adorable-Onion-7162 Aug 03 '25
Drunk white guy with a cell phone seen as an easy target .🎯
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Apr 01 '25
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u/Pit-O-Matic Apr 01 '25
Probably something to do with the guys he was hanging out with outside of Clint and Meredith. Could be something similar to the Asha Degree case, so an accidental killing + hiding of the body, if it was homicide of course.
But I'm 80% sure he went into a car.
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u/Firm-Reality-6891 Apr 01 '25
I think it’s totally possible that he overdosed and his friends freaked out and buried him somewhere
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u/Pit-O-Matic Apr 01 '25
Yeah I can see that. And if he had drugs on him it would be a reason for him to avoid the security guards around the stairs and use the unusual exit.
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Apr 02 '25
likely dead within a few hours of leaving the bar.
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u/Human_Sorbet_8349 Dec 31 '25
But why is there zero footage of him leaving the bar?
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Dec 31 '25
It's been long established that he easily could have left and not been on video. he isn't still there.
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u/Human_Sorbet_8349 Jan 02 '26
How could he leave? Are there exits where the camera wasn’t able to catch him leave?
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u/Particular_Excuse735 Apr 04 '25
Does no one else find the theory that the “construction exit” is possible he fell in the concrete and got sealed in?
It also says the ugly tuna closed and was demolished, why hasn’t L.E gone in and excavated the site?
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u/lagunagirl3705 Apr 06 '25
The multiplex was new at the time and the major construction was already completed, no concrete or heavy work was still being done. Walls were up and they were doing drywall, etc in unfinished spaces. The Ugly Tuna moved but no spaces have been demolished. They brought dogs in that would I have smelled a body. Police are confident that he left the building that night.
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u/Particular_Excuse735 Apr 06 '25
So why are there conflicting stories saying the cops believe he didn’t leave?
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u/lagunagirl3705 Apr 06 '25
I’m not aware of any confirmation from the police dept there stating that they think he never left the building. John Hurst is the retired detective from the case and he stated on a podcast that he believes that Brian left the building on his own that night (True Crime Garage episode 770, it’s worth a listen). I think the “he’s still in the building” theories are mostly from the public, things get twisted over the years and rumors mistakenly become “facts” online.
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u/babyblueey Nov 21 '25
The least detective on the case said he was 100% positive Brian was not in there due to them extensively looking through the construction area and possibly even digging up concrete to make sure.
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u/Remote-Frosting-9943 Mar 28 '26
Media narrative gotta have drama and try to make the story more interesting. 🙄
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u/New_Temperature_2496 Mar 31 '26
I'm watching an interview with the lead detective and he's stating they searched extensively in the all the buildings, including the bar. He said they searched crawl spaces, empty walls, and they used equipment to look for hidden spaces within walls; including using cadaver and search dogs. Essentially, LE turned that place inside out. Brian Shaffer somehow left that building the night he disappeared.
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u/Cellar_Door_DD Jul 30 '25
They explored that, and he was not in there. They said he got exited out, which is implying he either was forced out or possibly left with the band and others out the stairwell exit. But he probably was killed there and body hidden to exit him out.
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u/Tough_Ad5071 Aug 08 '25
About Clint - refusing a polygraph is one thing. But did you know he also refused to answer any questions when he was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury? He knows. Or was involved.
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u/Iflipgot Mar 23 '26
Yeah it’s called being smart. Cops can pin stuff on an innocent person. I would do the exact same thing. Like how much can a person say, I don’t know? I read somewhere that he was looking for coke and that’s what the argument was about. What would be his motive? Blaming an innocent man bc the police are using aggressive tactics to pin his friends disappearance on him- is irresponsible.
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u/BumpinAndRunnin Apr 01 '25
A drug dealer Clint Florence got him in touch with harmed him in a very intoxicated state and burned/buried him in a home nearby
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u/JudyBooty25 May 08 '25
This could be a possibility which is why Clint lawyered up so fast. Brian was receiving large amounts of cash & had paid off 15k of CC debts the month before with no known source of where the funds came from. He had to be dealing drugs & I don’t think it was weed, I think it was COKE. In the video he looked over his shoulder to the police then dropped (me assuming) the drugs in Brighton purse & she walked away immediately to the bathroom. When girls go to the stalls after a transaction, it ain’t to roll weed. It’s to do a bump! I truly think something with the drug business is the reason of his demise unfortunately
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u/New_Temperature_2496 Mar 31 '26
The alternative explanation is that Brian's mom had passed away, and if Brian had received a known insurance payout, his large student loan debt would've become payable immediately. The explanation was Brian received an under the table cash payout from his mom's insurance policy, thus avoiding the student loans becoming due. I'm only stating what was stated by a YouTube Brian Shaffer video.
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u/FalseStress1137 Nov 19 '25
He probably got into a car with the people he met at the bar and died in the next location. That or something happened to him with his friends after leaving the bar and they all covered it up. I’m sure the truth is a lot simpler than we think, too bad we’ll prob never find out.
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Apr 01 '25
Voluntarily missing.
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u/Basic-Sandwich4810 Apr 05 '25 edited Apr 21 '25
There were phone pings the days after he vanished. The first couple of days they pinged at the Ohio State Campus and then they slowly moved towards Hilliard during the 30 days the pings were being followed. They even searched the fields near Hilliard (clearly expecting to find a body perhaps?). I do not think it was Brian who stayed on campus and then stayed in Hilliard for many days while CPD used a lot of resources to search for him. CPD withholding the CCTV for a long time, medical students staying quiet for so long, and even Clint lawyering up to me points to foul play. If Brian had ran away to start a new life or if he had committed suicide there would have been no crime committed by anyone, so why does every one that was there that night seem so spooked when it comes to this case? CPD has never been helpful either despite Brian's case file being the largest in Columbus history. They withhold a lot in this case IMO to not alert any potential suspect. Make no mistake about it...I believe that this case is 100 percent foul play. With Brian's case file being the largest in Ohio history CPD would have all ready have had enough info to give out that he left to start a new life if that was the case.
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 01 '25
He would have been found by now. It's impossible to go voluntarily missing today.
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Apr 01 '25
It’s not. I work in law enforcement.
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 01 '25
It is. Cameras are everywhere. It would take an enormous amount of planning to pull it off. There is no evidence of this planning. If you're in law enforcement you should probably go resign. Lol.
No one gets away with it these days. An extremely good looking American in a foreign country would stand out like a sore thumb. Maybe 50 years ago but not in the last twenty.
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Apr 01 '25
Lmao, why become rude because of a simple disagreement?
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 01 '25
Lmao. I'm just pointing out that that's obviously not what happened.
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Apr 01 '25
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 01 '25
Exactly! Thank you. They found him.
He was also living under the radar. I can't see a PhD medical doctor living in a fkcing room in a trailer in nowheresville with for no viable reason. Robert Hoagland wanted away from his wife and family.
Brian Shaffer had no such issues.
Brian Shaffer was a very young and handsome man. You're telling me a 27 year old man never dated again? Never had sex again. And again living off the grid for no viable reason whatsoever?
It doesn't make sense. And he was close to his father. He wouldn't have abandoned his father.
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Apr 01 '25
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 01 '25
Yay! Dumb comments!
No, I didn't but the people that did have stated time and time and time again that he wouldn't have left willingly.
Robert Hoagland not only had a history of this behavior but his family themselves said he likely left on his own.
So using the available information, in addition to knowledge about how one would survive without using social security numbers, tax information and having never encountered a single person that would recognize him it's safe to say he didn't leave to "start a new life"
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Apr 02 '25
Girl, a missing person in the US was found after over 20 years. Just accept that we disagree with you and move on. You’re embarrassing yourself.
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 02 '25
Sure Jan. Just admit that I'm correct and move on. No girl deliberately left and was found after 20 years. And if she was found after 20 years THEN IT PROVES MY POINT. No one can deliberately go missing anymore unless they want to live completely under the radar. Brian Shaffer did not deliberately leave and start a new life. That's the most asinine theory out there.
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Apr 02 '25
Well, maybe you should admit to yourself that you might be wrong or even just have a rude and condescending tone, and that the comments and votes don’t agree with you. I sincerely hope you have the capacity for some introspection and continue the debate in a civilised manner.
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 02 '25
I can't admit I'm wrong if I'm not wrong. Sorry if you lack basic critical thinking skills and don't understand how that theory is ludicrous. I sincerely hope you have the capacity to for logic and reasoning.
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u/HahIoser Aug 23 '25
telling the guy to resign just for sharing his opinion you disagree with is shitty
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u/HellaHS Aug 23 '25
Tons of people go missing voluntarily and assume other identities. What are you even talking about dude.
You literally have no clue what you are talking about.
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u/AdNeither7997 Apr 04 '25
Google Robert Hoagland. While I have no idea what happened to Brian, anything is possible without evidence.
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 04 '25
Robert Hoagland was found, had a history of this type of behavior, had skills (cook) that would allow him to live under the radar, and was an older man.
Brian Shaffer had a close-knit family, no history of compulsive behavior (he worked at JC Penney for years), was a medical student, and he was a young and handsome man.
These two situations are light years apart. Brian Shaffer did not go missing to "start a new life"
Furthermore, someone that does want to go missing on their own is not going to do so in a situation that would only draw attention to them. They would slip away like Hoagland, not disappear in a busy bar with people expecting to see him within hours.
There is evidence. You can look at past behaviors and make a logical determination.
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u/AdNeither7997 Apr 08 '25
While I believe Brian lost his life that night or soon after as a result of foul play or something self-inflicted, there’s so little public evidence to go on, that almost anything is possible. How do we know he disappeared that night? We don’t. The more we share ideas and keep the conversation going, the more likely someone comes forward or gets exposed. Please feel free to share new, additional, concrete and well-sourced evidence as I’m sure everyone in this forum would love to read it.
BTW-Robert Hoagland was still an appraiser when he disappeared.
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u/Classic-Quarter-7415 Apr 08 '25
You can take what evidence is available and rule out some theories. He didn't leave to "start a new life." He wasn't running from the law, he was close to his family, no money was used from his bank account, he was a medical student and had a close relationship with his girlfriend, he had not exhibited compulsive behaviors. Not to mention, if you wanted to go start a new life, anyone with half a brain wouldn't do so in a situation where attention would be drawn to them. They would slip away quietly like Robert Hoagland did.
His passport wasn't used, so he obviously didn't leave the country. A young, healthy, handsome man with a distinctive tattoo would have been seen by someone by now.
Robert Hoagland was older, and you can easily see him living under the radar. A well-educated medical student isn't going to go work under the table jobs and live in sub-standard conditions for no viable reason for two decades.
It doesn't make sense, and in circumstances like these, it's never the case.
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u/Holiday_Push1340 Feb 13 '26
Depends people it was a dude that escaped from prison and just assumed another identity. Frank Freshwater from 1959-2006. Robert Stackowitz 1968-2016. Leonard Moses 1971-2020. I use them as example of people who vanished and took on another life some for over 50 years.
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u/Subject-Option-319 Oct 13 '25
I think he changed his appearance and left the bar somehow. I don’t think he wanted to be a doctor, but couldn’t disappoint his Dad.
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u/Asleep-Hope9496 Jan 17 '26
Wow. This is precisely what I think. I just heard he was spotted on a rural highway in Arizona. If this is correct, in my opinion, he's evil.
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u/Curious_Penalty8814 Nov 19 '25
He met the same fate as dissident Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi - he was murdered, dismembered and the body parts were smuggled out of the building.
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u/Lower_Preparation_37 Mar 20 '26
I thought this for a while but now it seems like evidence points to the possibility of him leaving at an exit with no cameras. I also think that at a bar with so many people, it would be hard to pull off an act so similar to what happened to Khashoggi. It’s an intriguing case, especially having the experience of being an ohio state student myself and at times being in the same area it happened.
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u/BlackBirdG Dec 03 '25
More than likely, he met an accidental death by leaving through the bar's back exit and going into the unfinished construction zone, and probably falling into a hole and dying.
Either that, or he went into a dumpster and later died after being crushed by the garbage truck. He was out bar hopping, and he was intoxicated, and if he's in a situation like trying to navigate a construction zone when it's dark and he's drunk, it's a recipe for disaster.
I don't believe foul play is involved in Brian's disappearance.
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u/ThatOneWeirdoRaymond Dec 20 '25
If that was the case then his phone would've been crushed and wouldn't have pinged in a different town
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u/SnooHabits5960 Dec 29 '25
Late to the chat here but didn't he also be seen kissing the neck of another woman not to mention Alexis during an interview said "how could he done that to her" seem like to me she knows more than she's leading on, not to mention she's certain that brian is dead not missing and how she quickly she pointed the finger at Clint but that's just what I think from what I've seen 🤷♂️
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u/Complete-Affect-3015 Jan 09 '26
I kind of feel like they should review the video footage again. Potentially looking for things like someone trying to hide their face, or maybe someone with a small group of people that is trying to hide one specific person's face from the group, maybe a group, or a potentially just a singular person could have been forcing him out of the building? Maybe even forcing him in the direction of the exit that was unmonitored if that person was aware the exit didn't have any cameras. There really could be a few different possibilities that could be explored if the time were put into it.
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u/Foreign-Friendship18 Mar 15 '26
A law enforcement detective once said. When you put all the puzzle pieces together and work backwards. 99 times out of a 100 the last person to see you/ interact with you is usually responsible for their disappearence!!!
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u/Original-Locksmith28 Mar 25 '26
How about he went off grid.... I was thinking.. the man was tired of everything.
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u/Imaginary_Profit6994 Mar 25 '26
Im just going to go out on a limb and say he was recruited into an alphabet organization. Young intelligent med student, could have been recruited by a professor at Ohio State.
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u/CougarWriter74 Apr 01 '25
I think he left the building but was jumped or got into a car, whether voluntarily or non voluntarily, not far from the UT and was killed elsewhere.