Brief Overview
| On the night of March 31, 2006, 27-year-old Brian Shaffer, a medical student at Ohio State University, went out bar-hopping with friends to celebrate the start of spring break. They eventually arrived at a popular bar called The Ugly Tuna Saloona in Columbus, Ohio. Security cameras recorded Brian entering the bar around 1:15 a.m., and later stepping outside briefly to talk to two women before re-entering. After that, he was never seen again — not on camera, not by friends, not by anyone. Strangely, there was no footage of him leaving the bar, and the only other exit led to a hazardous construction site. Despite thorough searches, no trace of Brian has ever been found. His wallet, phone, and bank accounts have remained untouched since that night. Over the years, the case has sparked countless theories — from foul play and accidental death to the unlikely idea that Brian staged his own disappearance. But to this day, his fate remains one of the most baffling unsolved mysteries of the internet era. |
Table of Contents
Who Was Involved:
Friends and Companions That Night
| Clint Florence -Close friend of Brian -Accompanied him throughout the night of March 31, 2006 -Last person known to see Brian inside the Ugly Tuna –Controversial detail: Refused to take a polygraph test and retained an attorney | Meredith Reed -Friend of Clint and Brian -Picked them up during the bar-hopping night and went with them to the Ugly Tuna -Waited with Clint for Brian after he went to talk to the band/DJ |
Family Members & Romantic Relationship
| Randy Shaffer (Father) -Actively searched for Brian after his disappearance -Appeared in media interviews and held onto hope –Died in 2008 in an accident involving a fallen tree during storm clean up | Renee Shaffer (Mother) -Died of cancer just three weeks before Brian’s disappearance -Had booked a family trip to Miami for spring break, which Brian and Alexis planned to still take | Derek Shaffer (Younger Brother) -Advocated for Brian in the media -Participated in interviews and public appeals | Alexis Waggoner (Brian Shaffers Girlfriend) -Brian’s girlfriend at the time -Planned to go to Miami with him (on a trip his late mother had arranged) Waited at the airport for Brian the Monday after his disappearance -Called Brian’s phone for months after he vanished; once it rang three times, with a cell tower ping in Hilliard, Ohio |
Part 1: Who is Brian Shaffer
Brian Shaffer was more than just another college student. At 27 years old, he was in his second year of medical school at Ohio State University, pursuing a demanding career in medicine.
Friends and professors described him as intelligent, driven, and compassionate — the kind of person who could light up a room with his presence. But Brian wasn’t all science and textbooks. He had a creative side too — a love for music, the beach, and a dream of one day starting a Jimmy Buffett-style band. He often joked about trading scrubs for flip-flops.
But behind the smiles and ambition, Brian was also carrying a heavy emotional burden. Just weeks before his disappearance, in March of 2006, Brian lost his mother, Renee, to a long and difficult battle with a rare form of cancer. Her passing devastated the entire family — especially Brian. Renee had been his rock, his biggest supporter. They were incredibly close, and the grief of losing her left a noticeable mark on Brian. Friends said he was still functioning, still going out, still studying — but something in him had shifted. He had become more reflective, quieter at times, and perhaps even weighed down by unresolved sorrow.
In many ways, her death drew the Shaffer family closer together. Brian’s father, Randy, and his younger brother, Derek, rallied around each other to get through the heartbreak. Brian leaned on his girlfriend Alexis, who had been a steady and loving presence in his life. Before her death, Brian Shaffer’s mother, Renee, had planned a trip for the family as a way to spend meaningful time together. She had booked a vacation to Miami, Florida, for Brian, his girlfriend Alexis, and the family, scheduled to take place during spring break in April 2006.
Sadly, Renee passed away from myelodysplasia, a type of bone marrow cancer, just three weeks before Brian disappeared. Despite her absence, Brian and Alexis still planned to go on the trip, likely as a way to honour her memory and take a much-needed break. The trip was scheduled for Monday, April 3rd — just two days after Brian went missing. Those who saw him in the days before spring break described a man who was tired, but trying — someone still holding on to hope, still looking for moments of happiness, even in the wake of a life-changing loss.
And then, in the early hours of April 1st, 2006… everything changed
If You Dont Want To Read Have A Listen Instead:
Part 2: Timeline of Events
On the night of March 31st, 2006, Brian Shaffer was looking forward to unwinding. It was the start of spring break at Ohio State University, and after a long week of exams and stress, he made plans to go out drinking with his friend, Clint Florence.
The two began their night by bar-hopping through Columbus’s popular University District, hitting several local spots and enjoying the atmosphere. Later that evening, they met up with a friend named Meredith Reed, who offered to give them a ride back to one of the final stops of the night — a bar called The Ugly Tuna Saloona. Located on the second floor of the South Campus Gateway, The Ugly Tuna was a lively, student-favourite venue known for its loud music and late-night crowd.
Security cameras captured the trio arriving at the bar around 1:15 a.m. At some point inside the bar, Brian told Clint and Meredith that he was going to go speak with the band or DJ, and that he’d meet up with them shortly after. That was the last time either of them ever saw him. As the bar neared closing time, Clint and Meredith looked for Brian, but he was nowhere to be found. They assumed he may have left on his own and decided to head home.
But by morning, it became clear — Brian never made it home, never boarded the plane for his planned vacation, and never contacted anyone again. He had simply vanished — in a busy bar, surrounded by people and cameras — as if into thin air.
If You Dont Want To Read Have A Listen Instead:
Part 3: What Happened Inside the Ugly Tuna Saloona?
What happened in the ugly tuna saloon you might be thinking.
The Ugly Tuna Saloona was Brian Shaffer’s last known location — and the site of one of the most bizarre disappearances in recent memory. At approximately 1:15 a.m., surveillance cameras recorded Brian entering the bar with his friends, Clint and Meredith. The camera, located just outside the entrance via an escalator leading to the second floor, had a clear view of who went in and who came out.
Inside, Brian seemed relaxed, even cheerful. He had a few drinks, mingled, and at one point mentioned he was going to talk to the band or the DJ. He told Clint and Meredith he’d meet back up with them — but he never did. At 1:55 a.m., cameras caught Brian briefly stepping outside the bar and speaking with two young women in the hallway. The footage shows him re-entering the bar moments later, walking alone.
After that — nothing.
He was never seen exiting the bar again. Not on the front camera. Not on any hallway footage. Nowhere. Investigators were baffled. The only other known exit was a back service door that led to a dangerous construction zone, filled with rubble and debris. Not only was it risky to use — especially while intoxicated — but it also wasn’t a logical choice for a patron to leave through.
Every other person who entered or exited the bar that night was accounted for on camera. But not Brian. Somehow, in a bar with security footage covering both entrances and exits, in a building with limited escape routes… Brian Shaffer vanished — without a single recorded trace.
To this day, no one has been able to explain how.
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Part 4: Immediate Search and Investigation
When Brian Shaffer failed to answer his phone the next morning, his girlfriend Alexis wasn’t immediately alarmed. After all, it had been a night of heavy drinking — maybe he was sleeping it off or had crashed with a friend. But when he still hadn’t called or texted by Sunday night, concern turned to panic.
On Monday, April 3rd, Alexis waited at the airport, bags packed, boarding passes in hand, ready for the trip to Miami — the one Brian’s late mother had planned before her death. But Brian never showed. It was that missed flight — the emotional weight of it — that made everyone realize something was truly wrong. His family contacted the police, and a missing persons report was filed. But even then… the investigation didn’t begin with urgency.
At first, authorities suspected Brian had gone off the grid on purpose — maybe overwhelmed by grief from losing his mother. Others suggested he might have gotten too drunk and passed out somewhere, or even gone on a spontaneous trip. But none of those theories made sense. His bank accounts remained untouched. His phone was silent. He hadn’t used his credit cards, and his car was still parked at his apartment. He had simply vanished — without taking anything with him.
Limited Escape Routes: A Physical Impossibility?
Investigators began reviewing every second of CCTV footage from the Ugly Tuna and surrounding businesses. They accounted for every single person who entered and exited the bar that night.
Everyone… except Brian.
The bar only had two known exits:
- The main entrance — covered by security cameras.
- A back service door — which led to a pitch-black construction zone, filled with debris, scaffolding, and drop-offs. It wasn’t open to the public, and certainly not an easy route for someone who had been drinking.
Police considered whether Brian could have slipped through this service door unnoticed. But it seemed unlikely. Not only was the area dangerous and difficult to navigate, but search dogs and officers combed the site extensively. No blood. Nobody. No trace. Another theory was the building’s garbage chute, suggesting Brian could’ve fallen in or been placed there. But investigators later confirmed it would have been impossible to access the chute without being seen or causing a major disturbance.
There were no alarms, no broken doors, no signs of forced entry or exit — and no footage of Brian leaving.
Eventually, police were forced to admit something chilling: “It’s almost as if he vanished into thin air.“
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Part 5: Theories and Key Clues
| With no physical evidence, no clear motive to run away, no signs of foul play, and no footage of Brian ever leaving the bar, investigators and internet sleuths began piecing together theories — each more perplexing than the last. |
Theory 1: Accidental Death Behind the Bar
One of the earliest and most examined theories is that Brian somehow exited through the back of the bar, possibly through the construction zone. Maybe he slipped out unnoticed, tried to take a shortcut, and suffered a fatal accident. The area was poorly lit and filled with hazards — sharp debris, exposed wiring, even open pits. But this theory loses strength under scrutiny. Search teams and cadaver dogs thoroughly combed the site multiple times — and found no blood, clothing, or remains. If Brian had fallen or become trapped, some trace should have been found. But there was nothing.
Theory 2: Voluntary Disappearance
Another theory suggests Brian chose to disappear — that he was grieving his mother’s death and wanted to escape the pressures of medical school and the life expected of him. But those who knew Brian well strongly disagree. He had no history of mental health issues, no known plans to leave, and most importantly, no motive. He was in a loving relationship, doing well in school, and looking forward to the upcoming trip to Miami. He also left everything behind — his wallet, bank cards, phone. Since the night he vanished, there’s been no activity on any accounts and no confirmed sightings. If he wanted to run away and start over, he didn’t prepare for it.
Theory 3: Foul Play
Some believe that Brian was the victim of a targeted attack, possibly inside the bar. Could he have gotten into an altercation with someone? Was he lured out the back and ambushed? But again, no blood, no struggle, no one reported a fight or suspicious behaviour that night. And The Ugly Tuna was crowded. If something violent happened — someone would’ve noticed. Unless… someone was able to make him disappear without drawing attention. There’s even speculation that the staff or someone with inside access may have helped cover something up — but there’s never been enough evidence to support that.
The Clint Florence Mystery
Adding to the suspicion is the behaviour of Brian’s friend, Clint Florence — the last known person to see him alive. Clint refused to take a polygraph test, despite police requests. He also cut off contact with Brian’s family and lawyered up almost immediately. While this doesn’t prove guilt — and he maintains his innocence — his actions have fuelled countless Reddit threads and online theories. Police have never named Clint a suspect, but the question lingers: what does he know?
The Phone Ping
One eerie detail emerged months later. Alexis, Brian’s girlfriend, kept calling his phone every night. For weeks, it went straight to voicemail — until one night, it rang three times. The phone pinged off a tower in Hilliard, Ohio, a suburb about 14 miles away. Authorities traced it but were unable to locate the device. Cingular, the phone carrier, later said it was likely a glitch, not an actual call connection.
Still… it gave everyone a chilling sense of hope — and dread.
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Part 6: Aftermath and Conclusion
Nearly two decades have passed since Brian Shaffer vanished — and still, there are no answers. No sightings. No remains. No closure. Just silence. For Brian’s loved ones, the pain has only deepened with time. His girlfriend, Alexis Waggoner, was devastated. She had been planning a future with Brian. After his disappearance, she kept calling his phone every night, hoping for a miracle — hoping he would pick up. His younger brother, Derek, was left to carry the weight of a family tragedy that only seemed to grow heavier with each passing year. But perhaps the most heart breaking impact was on Brian’s father, Randy Shaffer.
Randy never gave up hope. He searched, posted flyers, followed every possible lead. He often said he believed Brian was still alive — and that one day, he’d come home. In a cruel twist of fate, just two years after Brian’s disappearance, Randy died unexpectedly when a strong windstorm caused a tree branch to fall on him while cleaning up debris outside his home.
His obituary included a simple message — a final plea:
“Brian, I love you. Please come home.”
The Shaffer family suffered not just one loss, but two — without ever knowing what really happened.
| Today, Brian’s case remains one of the most infamous missing persons mysteries in the internet era. It continues to captivate Reddit sleuths, podcast hosts, and YouTube channels. But behind the theories and headlines is a real story — about a young man with a bright future, a grieving family left with no answers, and a night that still haunts Columbus, Ohio. Until then… the question remains: How can someone vanish from a crowded bar… and never be seen again? |
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Check out Our Video About The Disappearance of Brian Shaffer Below
Thank you for reading, listening or watching the case of Brian Shaffer is a heart breaking one and even near on 20 years later we still hope he returns and reunites with his family.
