Ohio Student Still Missing After 18 Years

In the early morning hours of April 1, 2006, Ohio State University medical student Brian Shaffer walked into a crowded bar in Columbus, Ohio — and was never seen again. Nearly two decades later, his disappearance remains one of Ohio's most perplexing mysteries. With no apparent motive, no known enemies, and no clear way he could have left undetected, the case has fueled endless speculation but yielded no answers.

A Promising Life Interrupted

Brian Shaffer was 27 years old, charismatic, and on his way to a bright future in medicine. A second-year student at Ohio State's College of Medicine, he had recently endured personal tragedy — his mother had passed away from bone cancer just weeks earlier — but he still seemed to be moving forward. He had a loving relationship with his girlfriend, Alexis Waggoner, and was planning a trip to Miami with her over spring break. Friends believed he was even preparing to propose.

On the night of March 31, 2006, Brian went out to celebrate the start of spring break with his close friend William "Clint" Florence. They bar-hopped around Columbus' Arena District, eventually meeting up with another friend, Meredith Reed, who drove them back to the Ugly Tuna Saloona, a second-story bar near Ohio State's campus. Surveillance cameras captured the three arriving at 1:15 a.m.

It would be the last known footage of Brian.

A Man Who Walked Into a Bar — And Never Came Out

Around 1:55 a.m., security footage showed Brian stepping outside the bar and chatting briefly with two women. Then, he appeared to re-enter the establishment. When the bar closed shortly after 2 a.m., Florence and Reed searched for Brian but couldn't find him. Assuming he had left on his own or found another ride, they went home.

But Brian was nowhere to be found. His girlfriend tried calling multiple times over the weekend, as did his father, but his phone went straight to voicemail. When he failed to show up for his Miami flight on Monday morning, panic set in. The search for Brian Shaffer began.

Theories, Dead Ends, and Unanswered Questions

Columbus police launched an extensive investigation, reviewing hours of security footage from the Ugly Tuna Saloona. Every person who entered the bar that night was accounted for — except Brian. The bar's two main exits were covered by cameras, making it appear as though he had simply vanished into thin air. The only other possible escape route was a poorly lit service exit leading to an active construction site. Leaving through that route would have been dangerous, especially for someone who had been drinking.

Investigators explored multiple theories:

• Accident: Could Brian have fallen into the construction site and been fatally injured? If so, why was no evidence ever found?
• Foul Play: Did someone inside the bar harm him, disposing of his body in a way that evaded detection?
• Voluntary Disappearance: Some theorized that Brian, still grieving his mother's death, may have staged his own disappearance. However, investigators found no activity on his bank accounts or credit cards after he vanished — and it seemed unlikely that he would skip the much-anticipated spring break trip planned with his girlfriend.

Complicating matters, Brian's roommate, Clint Florence, refused to take a polygraph test and reportedly stopped cooperating with investigators. Rumors swirled, but no concrete evidence linked Florence — or anyone else — to Brian's disappearance.

A Haunting Legacy

In the years following Brian's vanishing, his father, Randy Shaffer, never stopped searching for answers. Tragically, in 2008, Randy was killed when a tree fell on him during a storm, taking any lingering hopes of closure with him.

Meanwhile, theories about Brian's fate continued to surface. Some speculated that he had started a new life, possibly in Mexico, after a viral 2020 photo showed a homeless man resembling him. However, the FBI ruled out the possibility after conducting facial recognition analysis.

Today, Brian's younger brother remains the only surviving member of his immediate family. The case remains open, but with no new leads, it seems as if Brian simply disappeared without a trace.

Where the Case Stands Today

If alive, Brian Shaffer would be in his mid-40s today. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation released an age-progressed image in hopes that someone might recognize him. The Columbus Police Department continues to periodically review the case, though no new evidence has emerged.

For now, the disappearance of Brian Shaffer remains one of the most baffling mysteries in modern true crime history. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Columbus Police Department at 614-645-4545 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

Nearly 20 years later, one question still lingers: How does a man walk into a bar and never walk out?

References: Unsolved Ohio: Ohio State student who disappeared at bar still missing 18 years later | Inside The Mysterious Disappearance Of Brian Shaffer, The Medical Student Who Vanished From An Ohio Bar