8. The Mysterious Disappearance of Brian Shaffer

On the night of March 31, 2006, 27-year-old Ohio State University medical student Brian Shaffer walked into the Ugly Tuna Saloona, a popular Columbus bar, with friends. By the early hours of April 1, he had vanished without a trace. Despite extensive surveillance footage, no images show him leaving the bar.

Brian’s disappearance remains one of Ohio’s most puzzling mysteries, sparking countless theories, from foul play to voluntary disappearance. In this episode, we’ll explore the timeline, investigation, and theories surrounding this baffling case.

Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this podcast are my own and are based on the information available to me at the time of recording. While I strive for accuracy, I encourage listeners to do their own research and form their own conclusions.

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Source Material:

• Kirk Pepi, A Guy Walks Into A Bar - and Is Never Seen Again (Mel Magazine, 2018)
• Ava Boldizar, Unsolved Ohio: Ohio State student who disappeared at bar still missing 18 years later (NBC News, 2024)
• The Brian Shaffer Mystery (The Ohio Missing Dispatch, 2015) MagCloud
• Brian Shaffer Missing Person Poster (FBI.gov)
• "Missing Medical Student" Dateline NBC Brian Shaffer reporting
• Kelly Bruce, Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive Chapter Three: The Inside Track (Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive Podcast, 2019)

If you or anyone you know has information that could help solve Brian’s case, please contact:

• Columbus Police Department: 614-645-4545
• Crime Stopper Anonymous Tip Line: 614-461-8477

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