COLUMBUS — 2006 · Missing Person
The Disappearance of Brian Shaffer
On the evening of 31 March 2006, Brian Shaffer, a 27-year-old Ohio State University medical student, went bar-hopping in Columbus with friends to celebrate the start of spring break. Late in the night the group went to the Ugly Tuna Saloona near campus. Security cameras recorded Shaffer entering the bar and, at about 1:55 am on 1 April, talking to two women near the escalators before walking back inside — but no camera ever showed him leaving. Shaffer, who was due to fly to Amsterdam days later, was never seen again. Investigators spent years on camera blind spots, phone pings and possible witnesses; more than 20 years on, the case remains open.
- Date
- 2006
- Place
- Ohio, USA, Columbus, US
- Category
- Missing Person
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 39.9976, -83.0088 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 31 March 2006Shaffer went out bar-hopping with friends.
- 1 April 2006, 1:55 amCameras last recorded him walking back into the Ugly Tuna Saloona.
- April 2006He was reported missing and Columbus police launched a wide search.
- April 2026On the 20th anniversary, investigators renewed their appeal for information.
Sources
- NBC4 — Unsolved Ohio: 20 years after Brian Shaffer vanished nbc4i.com ↗
- Wikipedia — Disappearance of Brian Shaffer en.wikipedia.org ↗
- ABC6 — Ohio State med student Brian Shaffer vanished after night out abc6onyourside.com ↗
- NBC4 Columbus
- ABC6 Columbus
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.