Presenting - The First Degree with Jac Vanek and Alexis Linkletter

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Knife – “Presenting - The First Degree: The Disappearance of Brian Shafer”

Date: February 17, 2026
Hosts: Hannah Smith & Patia Eaton (The Knife), Jac Vanek & Alexis Linkletter (The First Degree)
Guest: Nikki (Brian’s childhood friend)
Main Story By: The First Degree

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Episode Overview

This episode spotlights one of the most enduring and mysterious unsolved disappearances in American true crime: the case of Brian Shafer. A second-year Ohio State medical student, Brian vanished without a trace from a crowded bar in Columbus in 2006. The episode explores the events leading up to his disappearance, the subsequent investigation, possible theories, and the lasting impact on those who loved him. Through first-hand accounts—primarily from Brian’s childhood friend Nikki—the story delves into the ripple effect of this case and tackles the daunting question: how can someone disappear in a bar full of cameras and people, leaving behind no clues?

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction (02:38–05:41)

• Brief overview of The First Degree and its focus on real stories from people connected to true crime cases.
• Announcement of new podcast content and community events (Book Club, exclusive episodes).
• Transition into the mood: “Turn down the lights and turn up your anxiety, ‘cause this could be you.” — Patia Eaton (05:41)

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Who Was Brian Shafer? (06:47–11:44)

• Background: Brian was a charismatic, intelligent, and well-loved 27-year-old medical student at OSU, inspired to pursue medicine by his mother’s cancer battle.
• Personal Side: Music lover with dreams of starting a band; described as kind, alternative, and deeply attached to family.
• Notable Quote:

  “He was just a really chill, nice guy. And he was also like an alternative kid, which, before there was goth or emo, there was grunge.” – Nikki (09:21)

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The Last Sightings & Disappearance (15:57–20:21)

March 31–April 1, 2006

• Night Out: Brian and his friend Clint began bar-hopping, joined by Meredith Reed. They visited the Ugly Tuna Saloona, a quirky, second-floor college bar.
• The Ugly Tuna’s layout: only one main public entrance tracked by cameras; a rear emergency exit led to a construction site.
• Surveillance Footage:
  • Brian seen re-entering the bar at 1:55am after speaking with two women; never seen leaving on tape from any exit after that.
• Notable Moment:

  “After he walks back inside, the security cameras never capture Brian leaving the bar. Ever. In fact, after this moment, Brian is never seen again.” – Jack Vanek (19:07)

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The Aftermath: The Immediate Search (20:21–26:35)

• Red Flags: Missed phone calls from girlfriend Alexis, missed family dinner, missed flight to Miami (planned vacation, presumed proposal).
• Mobilization: Family and friends post flyers and work with police.

  "He was supposed to meet his girlfriend at the airport...they're pretty sure he was supposed to propose to her on this trip." – Nikki (22:04)

• Investigation:
  • Police review security tapes, interview witnesses, search bar and construction site.
  • No activity on Brian’s bank or phone records, his car still at his apartment.

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Deepening Mystery & Community Impact (27:48–33:32)

• No Evidence, No Progress:
  • Three months later, Brian’s apartment broken into; not related to his disappearance.
  • “He was responsible, dedicated...people like Brian don’t just go missing.” – Patia Eaton (12:32)
• Vigils, Awareness, & Support:
  • Annual awareness events, candlelight vigils, reward offers up to $100,000.
• Emotional Toll:
  • "She continued calling his phone every night at 10pm hoping that he’d answer. In one night, she said that the phone rang three times, which was enough to give her just a spark of hope..." – Patia Eaton (32:11)
• Notable Quote:

  “Brian is still stuck at like 26. Like, it's heartbreaking.” – Nikki (54:20)

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The Theories: What Happened to Brian? (33:32–54:59)

1. River Accident

• Close river (Olentangy), but slow current and extensive searches yielded nothing.
• Quote:

  “He would have been found if he was in that river at some point, if not right when he fell in.” – Nikki (36:33)

2. Construction Accident

• Theory: Brian entered the construction zone, was injured, possibly entombed in foundation.
• Counter: Area searched thoroughly, later renovated; no evidence, and Nikki doubts the plausibility.
• Quote:

  “How would nobody say anything? Now that they've totally gutted that space, I would think if he was there they would have found him.” – Nikki (41:50)

3. Foul Play (Inside or Around the Bar)

• Possibility he was harmed inside or just outside the Ugly Tuna, body disposed of in dumpster/construction.
• Contradictions: No evidence, would require a cover-up by staff and others, no reports of a fight, search dogs found nothing.
• Quote:

  “If it was a random, like, somebody trying to rob him, they wouldn’t have taken him. You take their stuff and leave them." – Nikki (44:40)

4. Voluntary Disappearance

• No supporting evidence; close relationships, no preparation, father’s later death would’ve compelled him to return if he was alive.

5. Corruption and Conspiracy

• Theories of surveillance tampering or witness cover-ups; unfounded, but fed by lack of answers.

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Emotional and Cultural Impact (50:45–54:54)

• Legacy:
  • Brian remembered as a “good guy,” generous and compassionate; Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder mentioned his case in concerts.
    • “He would have loved for Eddie Vedder to even know his name. But the reason why he knows his name is what's so sad.” – Nikki (51:36)
  • FBI continues to seek tips; age-progressed images circulated.
  • His story remains a campus safety cautionary tale and haunts all who knew or followed the case.

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Memorable Quotes by Timestamp

• “Turn down the lights and turn up your anxiety, ‘cause this could be you.” — Patia Eaton (05:41)
• “He just was a really chill, nice guy...an alternative kid, which, before there was goth or emo, there was grunge.” – Nikki (09:21)
• “After he walks back inside, the security cameras never capture Brian leaving the bar. Ever. In fact, after this moment, Brian is never seen again.” – Jack Vanek (19:07)
• “Brian is still stuck at like 26. Like, it's heartbreaking.” – Nikki (54:20)
• “If it was a random, like, somebody trying to rob him, they wouldn’t have taken him. You take their stuff and leave them.” – Nikki (44:40)
• “He would have loved for Eddie Vedder to even know his name. But the reason why he knows his name is what's so sad.” – Nikki (51:36)
• “If a man can vanish under cameras in a bar full of people in the middle of a busy city, what does that say about the rest of us?...We live in a world of footprints, fingerprints, pings, pixels. And yet Brian left nothing behind.” – Patia Eaton (55:29)

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Section Timestamps

• Episode Introduction: 02:38–05:41
• Brian’s Background: 06:47–11:44
• Night of Disappearance: 15:57–20:21
• Immediate Search: 20:21–26:35
• Deepening Mystery: 27:48–33:32
• Theories Explored: 33:32–54:59
• Emotional Impact & Reflection: 54:10–55:29

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Conclusion

More than eighteen years after Brian Shafer's vanishing, his case embodies one of the greatest unsolved modern mysteries: a well-liked, promising young man disappears from a popular bar surrounded by cameras—without a trace. The episode explores with sensitivity and depth, balancing emotional storytelling, first-person memories, investigative detail, and thoughtful exploration of the unknown. To this day, no theory fully explains how Brian vanished, and his story stands as a chilling illustration of how quickly and completely someone can disappear, leaving friends, family, and an entire nation searching for answers.

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If you have information about Brian Shafer, please contact the Columbus Police Department or the FBI.

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Sources: The Knife, The First Degree, Columbus Dispatch, People Magazine, CNN, America's Most Wanted, NBC's Dateline, the Charlie Project, NamUs, FBI.

Transcript

[Patia Eaton]

This is exactly right.

[Public Ad/Host]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screen thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures new.

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[Jack Vanik]

Contains adult content and language. Listener discretion is advised.

[Patia Eaton]

The claims and opinions in this podcast are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the knife or exactly right Media.

[Jack Vanik]

Welcome to the Knife. I'm Hannah Smith.

[Patia Eaton]

I'm Patia Eaton. Today we're dropping one of our favorite episodes of the First Degree, a true crime podcast from Jack Vanek and Alexis Linkletter, if you're a true crime listener, this show is for you.

[Jack Vanik]

They cover everything from murders to cults to conspiracies. They dive into the lives of people connected to the most infamous crimes.

[Patia Eaton]

And today we're gonna play one of.

[Jack Vanik]

Our favorite episodes from their show. It is about the mysterious disappearance of Brian Shafer. Back in two.

[Patia Eaton]

You can listen to the First Degree anywhere you listen to your favorite podcast. So go check them out and we hope you enjoy the episode. The first degree.

[Jack Vanik]

First degree. First degree.

[Public Ad/Host]

First degree.

[Jack Vanik]

First degree. First degree.

[Patia Eaton]

The first degree.

[Jack Vanik]

You see it on Facebook. These things are supposed to happen in movies, not in real life. Foreign. Welcome to the First Degree, the true crime podcast that you might end up on. My name is Jack Vanik. I'm sitting here with Alexis Linkletter. Happy Wednesday. Happy hump day.

[Patia Eaton]

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

[Jack Vanik]

Happy Wednesday, everyone. I think that we have the best announcement that we could ever have and that is that our premium episodes, our First Degree Underground, is now available on Apple podcast subscriptions. Now this is the same content that we have over on our Patreon that we have been giving you for the past like four years now. Like something crazy.

[Patia Eaton]

Many, many years.

[Jack Vanik]

There's over 150 episodes, but they're now all available on Apple podcast subscription. It's so easy. All you do go on your Apple podcast, go to the First Degree, click a little button and you're subscribed.

[Patia Eaton]

And honestly, people have been rejoicing. We didn't even, we didn't even promote it. It just sort of went live quietly and people have been going nuts with joy. Being like this makes it so much easier. I don't want to use another app. I only like Apple subscriptions. So we sensed this, we knew was a desire and we just brought it.

[Jack Vanik]

We brought it prompted. We brought it to the people. If you didn't know. It's called the Underground. It's where we take your recommendations on cases. We take cases that we have been fascinated with and we do a full length episode about all of the cases. Exclusive content, baby.

[Patia Eaton]

And they're really good. They're as good as our regular episodes.

[Jack Vanik]

They're so good. So please join us in the Underground. We have a seven day free trial for you if you just want to check it out a little bit. But yeah, lots to listen to.

[Patia Eaton]

That's right.

[Jack Vanik]

Endless. And then the last little tidbit I want to say is if you want to read with us this month, we are reading Misery by Stephen King. It's so good. And every month we have a book book club meetup at the end of the month to discuss the book and it's our favorite place to be.

[Patia Eaton]

That's right.

[Jack Vanik]

All right, well that is enough of that. So let's turn down the lights and.

[Patia Eaton]

Turn up your anxiety, cuz this could be you. It was the start of spring break in Columbus, Ohio, a college town winding down, the streets still slick with rain. Bars were buzzing, students were celebrating. Music was spilling onto the sidewalks. And at one of them, a second story bar tucked above a retail strip near campus, a 27 year old med student bought a drink. He laughed with friends. He made small talk with strangers. He was smart. He was charming, sober enough to know his limits and looking forward to a trip in the coming days with the woman he loved. He steps inside. And from that moment on, no one can say for certain where he went next. This is the story of Brian Shafer.

[Jack Vanik]

Today's case is taking us back to April 1st of 2006. The top song on the charts was so Sick by Neo, followed by Me without you by Mary J. Blige, Talk by Coldplay, Living in Fast Forward by Kenny Chesney and Worldwide Suicide by Pearl Jam. And this one kind of feels a little bit ironic and you're going to understand why a little bit later. The top movies included Failure to Launch, V for Vendetta, the Shaggy Dog and the Inside Man. Oh, and of course, the Hills have.

[Patia Eaton]

Eyes in the setting for today's case. Columbus, Ohio, one of the largest universities in the U.S. oSU is deeply embedded in this city's identity. And the Wexner Medical center and College of Medicine remain prestigious and central to campus. The surrounding area was a bustling, high traffic area with nightlife and student housing. And the Olentany river flows just west of the OSU campus. The river is lined with parks, trails and wooded areas. And in 2006, when today's story took, Columbus had a vibrant, evolving nightlife scene, especially for the students. And the man at the center of today's story lived in Columbus and attended Ohio State University's medical school.

[Jack Vanik]

Brian Schaefer was a second year medical student. He was well loved, close to his family, and he kind of had it all. He was described as charismatic, intelligent and well liked by those who knew him. He had a girlfriend named Alexis. He was ambitious and obviously you have to be kind of ambitious if you want to become a doctor. And these dreams were inspired in part by the fact that his mother was battling cancer. So that kind of describes the kind of guy that Brian was.

[Patia Eaton]

Brian Was also known for his love of music. And he had always wanted to start a band. And everyone who knew Brian knew this about him, including our first degree for today's story. Nikki, who grew up with Brian in the same small town and they went to school together.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

We grew up in Pickerington, which is like a small suburb outside of Columbus. We graduated in 97. I met him in like kindergarten, first grade. So I would have met him in like 84, which seems like it was just like yesterday, but it wasn't. We went to Pickerington elementary behind our elementary school. Then there was this field and there was this old barn house. And we used to scare each other. Me. And we was like four of my other friends. And I just remember Brian. I just like screaming, but laughing and just. It's so ironic to think about, like, that was like, you know, when we were five, six years old.

[Jack Vanik]

Brian and Nikki also went to middle and high school together and they remained friends.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

He was in the band. He was really big into music. He played and he played the drums and played guitar, but he did the band. And I remember. Or he was in band. Friday night football games. Like the town shuts down. Like that's where you're at. And he would just be on the drum line and they would always do the beginning of this one Beastie Boy song where I remember him doing that. And he just. He loved music. And like all through high school he was just a really nice guy. Just was a really chill, nice guy. And he was also like an alternative kid, which like before there was like goth or emo. There was a grunge.

[Patia Eaton]

Brian loved Pearl Jam and this was also something that everyone knew about him.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

He was really big into Pearl Jam. He had a. He has a Pearl Jam tattoo.

[Jack Vanik]

Nikki saw Brian after they graduated high school as well. And she remembers one encounter early in 2006. This run in seemed kind of trivial at the time, but she doesn't feel that way about it now.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

I actually had seen him about three months before his disappearance at a restaurant, Italian Oven restaurant, outside of our little town. And we just. He was there with his parents, I was there with my mom. And we just kind of ran into each other and talked about student debt.

[Patia Eaton]

They talked about mundane things like student loan debt. Their respective relationships. They just sort of caught up about life.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

I'd never met his girlfriend, but he had mentioned to her and that, you know, things were still together, but I never met her, you know, so that was the last time I saw him. I had just gotten married in December and I just hold on and I just freeze it in my mind.

[Jack Vanik]

Brian was there with his parents, who Nikki had met in passing over the years.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

And I did know his family. Yeah, I met his parents in passing, you know, at graduation parties and stuff like that. So I said hi to them, but we just got up and was like, hey, how are you?

[Patia Eaton]

Brian talked about med school and shared the sad news that his mom's cancer was back.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

His mom was sick again. And that was something that was a big concern of his, that she had the bone marrow cancer again. But he was just talking about med school. Yeah, he was kind of stressed about that and his mom being sick.

[Patia Eaton]

They talked about how much time had passed. And as far as Nikki could tell, Brian still had everything going for him. He was 27 years old, with his whole life ahead, handsome, and he was going to be a doctor one day. And it was good to see him.

[Jack Vanik]

But then three months later, Nikki got a phone call. A phone call that stunned her. And now when she thinks back, she sees that final encounter a little bit differently.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

My mom actually called me. She had ran into another classmate's parent at a Kroger, which is our grocery store. And they had mentioned, did you hear Brian? This was like, so he went missing. And so my mom ran into a parent on Monday at the grocery store. And that parent had stuffed with my mom. So that my mom called me and was like, you know, Brian Schaefer, you graduated with him. I'm like, yeah. And then that's when she said that a parent had said he's missing or something. This is before, like, I think Facebook maybe was it in its infancy. But I ended up calling a friend of mine, Alyssa, who knew his. One of his best friends, and come to find out, like, yeah, that's he was missing.

[Patia Eaton]

Missing a word that doesn't make sense, not in the context of Brian Schaefer. People like Brian don't just go missing. Brian was responsible, dedicated to his education, to becoming a doctor to his family. Nikki wasn't worried at first. I mean, why would she be? He'd turn up. But at that early stage, Nikki never could have guessed that Brian's disappearance would land among the most mysterious, perplexing and debated in US History. But that's exactly what happened. There are so many questions to answer and so much ground to cover. So, you know the deal. We're going back.

[Public Ad/Host]

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[Jack Vanik]

On the night of March 31, 2006. Brian was reportedly doing well, all things considered. His mother had lost her fight with cancer a few weeks back and the loss had been a profound emotional blow to him. Her illness is why he wanted to be a doctor. But he was taking his grief on the chin and he decided to go out with some friends to blow off some steam. You know, maybe his grief was why he was going out. A distraction, seeing some friends, a reminder of what life is really all about.

[Patia Eaton]

So we met up with Clint Florence. Brian and Clint were friends and med school classmates at Ohio State. Both were in their second year. Brian considered Clint a close friend and they hung out often. And they met at Brian's apartment at 9pm that night. And their first stop was at the Ugly Tuna Saloona. And the Ugly Tuna was a distinctive college bar and live music venue. It was located on High street on the second floor of the South Campus Gateway complex.

[Jack Vanik]

And we'll paint a little picture for you. So the Ugly Tuna was on the second level of a multi use building. Bar goers accessed it via a long escalator from the sidewalk. And the building was kind of like a modern building. There was a glass storefront that had these big windows that overlooked the plaza below. And it had signage with the distinctive Ugly Tuna saluna lettering lit up in bright neon. Security cameras were mounted at the top of the escalator and the bar was positioned above a large area that was under construction at the time.

[Patia Eaton]

And the vibe of this place was laid back and decor was ocean themed, kitsch beach signs, fishing nets and kind of Ugly Fish art in line with the playful, quirky name. It was dimly lit, colorful, loud and lively, especially on weekends and during college events. Think like Jimmy Buffett meets dive bar with an Ohio State twist. Honestly, the Ugly Tuna sounds like a great place to commence a bop. And that's exactly what they did. Oh, and Nikki had been to the Ugly Tuna Saloona as well.

[Jack Vanik]

So Clint and Brian left the Ugly Tuna Saloona and went bar hopping in the area known as the Arena District. This area is still known for its sports bars, dance clubs and music venues. Eventually they met up with one of Clint's friends, a girl named Meredith Reed. And Meredith drove Clint and Brian back to the Ugly Tuna saloona at around 1:15 in the morning. We know the exact time because security footage captured Brian returning to the bar. And this security footage would add a layer of confusion to this mystery that still lingers around today.

[Patia Eaton]

And according to Nikki, based on her knowledge of the Ugly Tuna Saluna, once Brian arrived and entered and basically ascended this escalator. There are only two places that he could have gone because this area was well contained.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

I remember the Ugly Tuna Saloona was like a two story. It was, it was in a building. It was on the second floor. You had to go up these escalators and you can either go into the bar or you can go to the bathroom. And then there's cameras covering all of the exits to that building.

[Patia Eaton]

The Ugly Tuna reportedly only had one main entrance which was covered by the surveillance. There was an emergency exit in the back, but it led to a construction zone with no easy access or surveillance. And the cameras captured Brian last near an exit leading into a hallway that accessed this construction area with an exterior door. It's a little confusing if you're not looking at it, but you can look at this footage, which we'll encourage you to do so. This exit that we're talking about was not for public use. Cameras there were limited, one panning continuously and another manually controlled. When Brian was last seen on camera, he was wearing an olive green polo shirt, boot cut jeans, white Adidas sneakers with blue stripes, a silver wristwatch and a yellow Livestrong bracelet. He is again briefly seen on the surveillance footage at 1:55am Speaking to two women at the top of the escalator outside the bar. Then he walked back into the bar. But here's where it gets really crazy. After he walks back inside. The security cameras never capture Brian leaving the bar. Ever. In fact, after this moment, Brian is never seen again.

[Jack Vanik]

The next morning, red flags were raised almost immediately. It was April 1, and his girlfriend Alexis tried calling Brian multiple times starting that morning. And she heard nothing back. At first she thought maybe he was just hungover or laying low after a late night. So she kept trying to reach him over and over again. Eventually, people started asking Brian's friend Clint if he knew where Brian was. Clint said he had no idea. He said he had lost track of Brian the previous night and assumed that he had left to go home or just meet up with somebody else.

[Patia Eaton]

And the whole day passed and Alexis never heard back from Brian. So she started obviously getting probably weirded out, annoyed, pissed. That's where I would start anyway. So by this point, Brian's dad Randy also began trying to reach his son. That evening, which was a Sunday night, Brian missed a family dinner, which was really out of character, especially considering they had just lost his mom. Like the rest of the family was really close at this time. And his girlfriend Alexis became increasingly worried and began calling around, including to friends and to the police.

[Jack Vanik]

But things felt really serious when Brian missed a flight to Miami for a vacation that he had planned with Alexis. Alexis was at the airport waiting for him, calling and texting him, and he just never showed up. She already knew that something was deeply wrong, but now there was no lingering doubt about it after that. Alexis and Brian's dad, Randy, filed a missing persons report the same day, and Alexis told the media outlets the following. She had this gut feeling something was terribly wrong and described calling his phone repeatedly, sometimes hearing it ring and other times going straight to voicemail.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

He was supposed to meet his girlfriend at the airport to fly to Miami that Sunday. And that was when they noticed. That's when they first were like, he. He's missing because he was not at the airport, and they're pretty sure he was supposed to propose to her on this trip to Miami. Horrible, horrible. And then you're at the airport waiting for him, and he doesn't show up. And then first you're probably pissed. Sorry. First you're probably mad.

[Patia Eaton]

And like we talked about, if I was in this position, and maybe if you were in this position, first you start thinking, like, he's breaking out with me. He's ghosting me. Like he's straight up bailing on this relationship. Yeah, it starts with anger, irritation, fear, and that pivots to hurt, maybe even feelings of betrayal. But then soon the realization creeps in that you know Brian and he wouldn't do this to you. And it's at this point that Alexis and Brian's dad began to really mobilize, Alerting people, actively looking for Brian and handing out missing persons flyers near campus. And this is when Nikki heard about what happened and was compelled to help them.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

I don't remember how it happened. I just remember us being down on campus, like, with. With flyers, like, looking for him and passing out flyers. And so his dad was the one that was like. And his brother were down there.

[Jack Vanik]

At first, Nikki was convinced that there had to be a reasonable explanation for all of this.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

And I remember thinking, like, he's just. He's obviously just passed out somewhere on campus. Like, there were parts of campus that were pretty dodgy. Like that we all still went to them, but, like, where the bars were, it wasn't. So I just figured, like, maybe he's passed out somewhere. Or maybe the worst case scenario, he has gotten in an accident or he's in the hospital.

[Jack Vanik]

Soon the police were involved. They pulled the surveillance footage from the Ugly tuna saluna and the other bars nearby. They interviewed Clint Florence and Meredith Reed. They searched the bar, the building and the surrounding construction sites. They checked Brian's apartment. His car was still there where he had left it. And they checked his phone records, his bank accounts, and there was absolutely no activity.

[Patia Eaton]

And the police determined that Brian's last known communication before he vanished was a call to his girlfriend Alexis that he'd made earlier that evening. Alexis was asked about this call and she said when she talked to Brian, he was his normal self, he was affectionate, and that they were both looking forward to their Miami trip. Nothing was amiss.

[Jack Vanik]

When the video clip of Brian's final moments at the Ugly Tuna Saluna were released is really when the public started paying attention. How is it that Brian walked in but he never walked out? Nobody could make sense of it.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Yeah, because your options are like where they're showing him. You can go into the bar, you can go into the bathrooms where he supposedly went, or you can go into a corner. It seems like a corner. That's about it. It was just so bad. Like how does someone just vanish? When I saw the footage and the detective said he had been everyone on that, that film has been accounted for. It's like he just vanished. That's when I was like, I have, I have no idea what happened to him.

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[Jack Vanik]

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[Patia Eaton]

The search for Brian continued for days, for weeks. And obviously the hope that Brian would return unscathed, unharmed remained, despite the fact that his med school classes resumed following spring break and he was nowhere to be seen. And the investigation and the search for him continued as well. And soon three months had passed and suddenly a new wave of confusion and speculation arrived.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

About three months after his disappearance, his apartment was broken into. And still people thought, okay, here it is. This is something.

[Jack Vanik]

The hope was that Brian had surfaced and broken into his own apartment. But that wasn't the case.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

But no, it was just a random idiot that broke into his apartment and stole some CDs or something. But they caught him and it was some, it was just some random person. He had broken like a few apartments that night. And just so everyone, of course, everyone's like, okay, this is it.

[Patia Eaton]

The longer that Brian remained missing, the deeper the mystery of what happened to him became. Everyone in Brian's life was interviewed, and so were as many people who were at the Ugly Tuna on the night he vanished that police could find. And no one reported seeing him leave or being involved in Any sort of altercation with anyone that night. And also, Brian didn't have any enemies.

[Jack Vanik]

The police searched the area around the Ugly Tuna saloona with cadaver dogs. They searched every nook and cranny within the construction area, and they found nothing. No Brian and no physical evidence.

[Patia Eaton]

And the media coverage started small, with local Columbus outlets covering the case first. But as the surveillance footage emerged and started circulating, the fact that he was seen entering but not leaving, well, that's when national media outlets picked up the story. This footage was poured over, dissected, watched on repeat. No one could get over how just normal Brian looked in these final moments. The story took hold. Maybe it was because Brian was the boy next door, young, good looking, intelligent, with no obvious reason to disappear. Maybe people watched and followed the story, hoping for a happy ending, an answer to the looming questions. His case had that locked room mystery quality. How can someone vanish from a bar with cameras at every exit?

[Jack Vanik]

People have criticized the friend that Brian was with that night, Clint, for how he has behaved following Brian's disappearance. He was reportedly cooperative at first, but later refused to take a polygraph test. He refused to comment publicly about the case, and his behavior raised public suspicion. The police have never named him as an official suspect. He retained a lawyer early on and has declined interviews in the recent years. So is that suspicious or is it just smart? Clint was a medical school student, and he had a future to protect, especially if he knew for sure that he had nothing to do with why his friend was missing.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Meredith and Clint were the two people he was with. Clint got an attorney right away, which in 2006 seemed odd. In 2025 to me, does not seem odd. Like, now that I'm older, I'm like, yeah, get an attorney, somebody, you know, like, it's a good question, you know, but back then, that seemed weird, but it is. But now that we're older and we know more about law enforcement, yeah, you probably should get an attorney.

[Patia Eaton]

Eventually, Nikki realized that this was real. Brian wasn't missing in a type of situation where he was going to emerge suddenly with an innocent explanation. And once everyone else realized this was for real, no one believed he was voluntarily missing. Which was a really sad thing to reconcile because that meant that something horrible had happened to him and also that Brian was probably no longer alive.

[Jack Vanik]

There were several vigils held to raise awareness for Brian's disappearance. One was organized by Ohio State University classmates and friends. It was held close to wherever he was last seen. And there have been annual vigils ever since. His Disappearance as well, often held on or near the anniversary. They were designated to keep public pressure on the police investigation and to offer emotional support for Brian's loved ones. Brian's friends, family, and anonymous donors have offered reward money at various times. Early reward offers range from 25 to $100,000.

[Patia Eaton]

Obviously, Brian's girlfriend struggled with the sudden disappearance of her serious boyfriend. There were rumors that they were going to get engaged on that Miami trip, so this would have been devastating. At this point, they had already decided to spend their lives together, and they had a plan to go and finish med school together, to become doctors together. Who wouldn't be devastated by this, you know? She was vocal in the weeks and months following Brian's disappearance, and she said that she continued calling his phone every night at 10pm hoping that he'd answer. In one night, she said that the phone rang three times, which was enough to give her just a spark of hope, though it may have been a glitch or momentary signal from a dead phone. She also kept visiting his apartment. She stayed in touch with Brian's dad, and she kept pushing for media attention. And it's sad, but Alexis later became a doctor, which was the very path that she and Brian had planned together.

[Jack Vanik]

And it's important to note that those close to Brian said that he never spoke of suicidal ideation. He was still grieving the recent loss of his mother, who had passed away just three weeks earlier from cancer. But his grief, according to his friends, was one that they would just consider normal. He had good days and bad days, but that night, he appeared to be celebrating, not withdrawn.

[Patia Eaton]

One thing that does remain murky about this night and could play a key role in what happened was how much alcohol Brian had consumed. And we lack the clarity here because they visited multiple bars, three or four. But Meredith Reed, who gave the guys a ride back to the Ugly Tuna, did not report that Brian was intoxicated when she gave him a ride. She said that he was in good spirits and relaxed in this assumption of how much alcohol he did drink. People have said it's between four and six drinks over several hours, possibly more, possibly less. But we know for sure that if you watch this surveillance footage of Brian, he doesn't look belligerent or incoherent.

[Jack Vanik]

The police determined that Brian spoke to two women outside the bar shortly after 1:55am These women were tracked down and interviewed. They said that their chat with Brian was brief, friendly, and unremarkable. No red flags, no odd behavior, no signs of distress.

[Patia Eaton]

It is one of the Craziest cases where you're just like, so what happened? What happened? Right.

[Jack Vanik]

No clues.

[Patia Eaton]

When we were talking to Nikki, the interviewee, the first degree for this episode. It's just like you can talk through all of these little, like, the minutiae of any scenario because something did happen, something that doesn't make any sense. And it's like, what is it? Did he get locked in the freezer of the bar? And then the bar didn't want liability, so they covered up. Like, it has to be something that no one saw, no one heard, and no one in a busy bar witnessed. So what is it?

[Jack Vanik]

And there was no evidence at all.

[Patia Eaton]

Right.

[Jack Vanik]

It's like he literally just poofed. Yeah. It's crazy.

[Patia Eaton]

Devastating. Right? And because as someone who knew Brian, I'm sure none of this is good enough. Like, you need an answer, and to not know if this was your son or close friend would be. Would haunt you. Right. So obviously, a lot of the theories surrounding the case are tied to the rivers in the area. So it's the closest major body of water to the Ugly Tuna. It's the Olentangi river, and it runs about a mile west of where Brian disappeared. And here's what we know about it. So it's accessible by foot, but not directly adjacent to the bar. Some suggest that he could have wandered in that direction if intoxicated. Several unrelated deaths in Ohio have involved intoxicated men found in rivers. But in those cases, the remains were discovered pretty quickly. So that doesn't really align with what happened here.

[Jack Vanik]

People also wonder whether Brian could have left the Ugly Tuna via the back exit and walked alone along the Arena District and fell into the river, possibly disoriented or intoxicated. This has happened many times in other college towns with rivers running through them, but the river was searched, and they.

[Patia Eaton]

Used sonar and dogs to search the river. And Nikki doesn't buy the river theory for several reasons.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

There's a. Two rivers that converge into Columbus that are not right by the bar, but are in downtown Columbus. So then they're like, maybe he's in the river. I think he would have. Honestly, like. I think it, like, because the river. It's not like it's a kayaking, fast flowing river. I mean, it's. It's flowing. And this river, like, you could dump in one. Like, we have festivals downtown in Columbus, like the Jazz Fest, and it's. And we have a couple of bridges that go over. You could swim over this river. He would have been found if he was in that river at some point, if not right when he fell in, where he flows the way that it's pretty slow. Slow flowing, like he would have been. His body would have surfaced. Like, by now. I just think he would have been found if he went in the river.

[Jack Vanik]

And while more signs point away from the river than towards it, there's been a talk of other ways the river could have played a part in this mystery. Perhaps Brian was killed somewhere and his body was put into the river much later, Possibly even outside the city itself, Particularly because Columbus has multiple rivers, Multiple lakes and reservoirs in surrounding counties.

[Patia Eaton]

And some people suggest that the river is just a total red herring Used to explain away disappearances that otherwise have more sinister explanations. And when it comes to Brian and the night in question, Every single angle has been explored. The theories really are boundless, and we're going to take you through the most prevailing ones to the best of our ability. So let's start right next to the ugly tuna saluna. So we talked about the surrounding area and how there was a lot of construction in the area back then. This includes the back of the ugly tuna saluna, which faced a dark, unlit, fenced off construction site with limited foot traffic. And these construction areas had multiple potential hazards, including open trenches, tools, rebar, and debris. And while the main entrance of the bar was visible and well trafficked and covered by surveillance, the rear exit area was dim, Largely unsupervised, and not covered by comprehensive surveillance.

[Jack Vanik]

Some speculate that perhaps Brian left the bar intoxicated and maybe he fell or he was injured in the construction zone and his body was somehow missed. Investigators flagged that the construction area was difficult to navigate, Especially while drunk. But the construction areas were searched thoroughly with no signs of him. That didn't stop many from theorizing that he may have tried and either got lost or fell. This is a theory that Nikki has.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Pored over a lot for a long time. I thought maybe he had fallen, and there was. They were doing construction there. I thought maybe he fell in construction. And then, like, they poured. Said they may have poured cement over him. Okay, so then maybe he's in the building. But wait, they remodeled the building? Like, how wouldn't that smell? I mean, not to be disrespectful, but, you know, if there's. If he was in the. In the building somewhere, you'd think at some point, like. And then they remodeled it. Now it's an office and apartment building. And you think he would have a smell, and how would nobody say anything?

[Patia Eaton]

So people wonder Whether Brian fell in the construction area and somehow his body was maybe sealed into the foundation, maybe concrete was poured on top of him. But police say that's just not possible. That they searched this area thoroughly and presumably prior to any construction like that happening. And to Nikki's point, wouldn't construction workers have found, smelled, noted something. And this still doesn't explain why Brian isn't seen leaving on surveillance camera. So, you know, it is one of these cases where once you can get convinced of one theory, like, okay, this construction theory makes sense. There's something, there's a way to poke a hole in it. Like, that still doesn't explain why he wasn't seen leaving. Like to, to be in the construction area, he would have need to let to leave.

[Jack Vanik]

Yeah.

[Patia Eaton]

So why wasn't he seen leaving?

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Yeah, the hypothesis for a while was maybe he was drunk and went into the construction area and then fell. But I, I think that that entrance is covered by the cameras too. I don't think there's any exit that's not covered by cameras. I know, I know. And like, his brother is like, lost his dad. So it's just. And like I said, when you go down one avenue, you're like, okay, it could be this. But then you're like, but then, wait, how did he get out of the bar?

[Patia Eaton]

Some argue that despite the police searches that Brian could have been missed in this construction zone. Some argue that bodies and trenches can remain hidden. There's also another theory that Brian might have somehow accessed a freight elevator or rooftop area, then descended through the construction site, effectively disappearing down stairways or shafts into some blind spot. Which is why the cameras would have missed him. But like, literally this means that he would have had to shimmy through the ceiling or something like.

[Jack Vanik]

Yeah, like remove the ceiling tile.

[Patia Eaton]

Yeah, like go through an air conditioning event. Like really some secret spy shit. And let's talk like he's had six drinks, he's there with friends. Why would he. That makes no sense.

[Jack Vanik]

He's not doing that. Right.

[Patia Eaton]

So Nikki also brings up a good point that the building in the area, in the bar of the Ugly Tuna Saluna itself has since been gutted and completely renovated. Say he's body had been stuck in some shaft. They would have found it.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Now that they've totally gutted that space. I would think if he was there, they would have found him. Because the only two options for him at the top of the escalator was the bathrooms or the bar. And there. And then there is the part where they were doing construction Was like off a little bit right by the bathroom.

[Jack Vanik]

Then there are theories that are tied to both Val Play and the construction site itself. One Reddit user wondered whether Brian may have exited via a construction door and been lured or violently taken into unseen areas like stairwells, dumpsters, or unobserved parts of the site. They said this, I think Brian Schaefer left through the construction area, possibly put in a garbage dumpster, which explains why they never found him.

[Patia Eaton]

Right, because remember we mentioned that the back of the Ugly Tuna faced this dark construction area, limited foot traffic. So if he somehow ended up back there, this theory isn't off the table. There could be blind spots in surveillance footage. And obviously like this treacherous terrain of this construction area isn't ideal for someone intoxicated or walking alone.

[Jack Vanik]

Additional foul play theories include the possibility that Brian could have been harmed inside or just outside the bar, and that somebody may have helped cover it up. Because of Brian's failure to be seen leaving the bar on surveillance, some suspect that Brian was assaulted or killed inside the Ugly Tuna while or its back areas like the kitchen, and that maybe his body was removed covertly or concealed.

[Patia Eaton]

Right, so this is often when the dumpster gets brought up where it's like, maybe he was killed inside the bar, hidden somewhere for a day, and put in a giant trash can and that's why he wasn't seen leaving. Like, how else do you remove a grown man without being seen? Right, so there are supporting points to that theory. Right, we talked about this. He wasn't seen exiting the bar, has this back service exit, which maybe that's how they remove the trash. Maybe he was ambushed or caught off guard. But there are challenges to this possibility too. There were reportedly no known fights that night. You know, the bouncers, the bar staff were interviewed. Search dogs found no scent or trace of Brian inside the bar. And this scenario where he was killed inside the bar would likely require cooperation from multiple people. This involves maybe a sophisticated cover up. So was this robbery? Was this a crime of opportunity? We just don't really know still. And also, even if Brian was robbed or beaten up, what perpetrators also take the victim. Like we hear about people getting mugged or shot. You know, when they're mugged, they don't take the body too. No, they just take the things they're trying to steal.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Yeah, but I also feel like if it was a random, like, like somebody trying to rob him, they wouldn't have taken him. You know, I mean, like, you don't usually just, you know, you take somebody, take their Stuff and leave them. I don't feel like they would take them. But there have been a couple guys that have disappeared. So that's why people have tried to link that into it.

[Jack Vanik]

Then there's foul play scenario number two, where Brian could have exited through the back and was followed by someone and possibly attacked and dumped or buried in or near the construction zone behind the bar. Others think that he was intentionally dumped there and later removed or covered.

[Patia Eaton]

But the challenges for this possibility include the fact that the construction areas again were searched so many times. No blood, no clothing, no nothing was found. Then there's another theory that Brian got into an altercation with a bar employee and that something, you know, happened in that bar employee alone could have kind of done dealt with this. But that's like, that's crazy. That's like nobody seeing it. Yeah, but like.

[Jack Vanik]

And no evidence.

[Patia Eaton]

It would be really hard and again require cooperation from at least one person and people conspiracies involving that many people. Just look what happened with Karen Reed.

[Jack Vanik]

Okay.

[Patia Eaton]

Like it's impossible to keep that kind of coordination quiet, especially for all these years. Right. It's just seems unlikely.

[Jack Vanik]

Other foul play theories include the following. Maybe Brian was hurt and his body was placed in a dumpster and removed during trash pickup, possibly after being assaulted near or inside the construction zone.

[Patia Eaton]

Or maybe Brian was lured from the bar into, you know, ran into the wrong person. Maybe he was assaulted and killed far, far away from the bar. So the search of the surrounding area were irrelevant. Maybe he was abducted, assaulted, murdered. But of course none of these make sense without seeing him leaving on surveillance.

[Jack Vanik]

It's worth noting that Columbus and the area around where Brian disappeared was not a particularly safe area back then. The Ugly Tuna is closed now and back then it was situated in a mixed use entertainment district still undergoing revitalization and construction. At the time the area was known for minor crimes including theft, especially targeting students, fights and altercations outside bars and drug related activity. It wasn't considered a high violence zone like some parts of Columbus at the time. But it wasn't squeaky clean either, especially in off hours or around bar closing times. Students from that area have commented online that the area was gritty, especially just off the main drag. And this aligns with Nikki's description of the area.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

I remember back in like 2006, the bar across the street from Ugly Tuna had just enforced the dress code because of people coming in and like gang affiliated clothes. It was getting to where there were parts of Columbus downtown and a campus area that I look Back on. And I'm like, oh my gosh, why was I walking around, you know, that age, you know, downtown on campus? And so I know, like they had just installed a cover charge and a dress code across the street because of people coming in and starting fights and being in gang related colors and stuff like that. So it wasn't like the best part of town, but it was still considered OSU campus. So people had this false sense of it's safe, it's a campus, you know, and that area is not like the area around Columbus is not great.

[Patia Eaton]

So some speculate again that there's a small chance that Brian may have chosen to disappear, overwhelmed by grief from his mother's death. But that doesn't really make sense to those who know him, especially the circumstances. Like he hid in a dumpster to leave a bar when he was drunk. Like, didn't go back for his phone, no money used. He was also very close with his father and girlfriend, had that vacation planned. Showed no concrete signs of wanting to leave his life behind. And you know, Nikki made a good point. You know, after Brian's father died, she's like, if the small chance that if Brian was voluntarily missing, he would have come back. He loved his dad.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Two years later, his dad passed away. So his brother lost everybody, like in this. And so, like, this is another reason. If he was gone on his own, he would have. I on, I really feel he would have, unless he had some amnesia or something. When his dad passed away, he would have been back here and his dad was out back picking up the debris from the storm. And it's like a tree limb fell on him and killed him. It was horrible.

[Jack Vanik]

So the bottom line is if Brian was voluntarily missing, he wouldn't have stayed gone. Following his dad's tragic death in 2008, Randy Schaefer died in a tragic accident when a tree fell on him. It seemed so unfair for this family to suffer yet another loss.

[Patia Eaton]

Then there was yet another brief wave of confusion and speculation following his dad's death.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

So then when his dad died, somebody wrote on his dad's obituary, like, miss you, dad. I'll see you soon. Love, Brian. And it said virgin Islands. So of course everyone's like, Brian, you know. No, that was a hoax. It was just somebody in Hilliard, which is on the west side of Columbus. They've got. It was a library on the left side of Columbus. They found the IP address and they had written it from that library.

[Jack Vanik]

Then there are theories that involve corruption. Fringe theories suggest that somebody tampered with surveillance footage or exploited a blind spot in security. Police never confirmed any tampering. To this day, people want to know what happened. And it's among one of the most well known and high profile disappearances in the country. The case was featured on America's Most Wanted, Dateline NBC, and various true crime podcasts. And once you talk to Nikki about Brian, it's not hard to understand why Brian was one of the good ones. He was just a good guy.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Well, I remember in high school, like, I was after school one day for like student council or something, and Brian was walking in and he had a big box of clothes and I'm like, we were like juniors. I'm like, what are you doing? And he was bringing in stuff from his house, like a box of like, shoes and jackets that he just was donating to our lost and found. And I found out that he'd done that every year. Nobody knew. Like, it wasn't even something that the teachers even said to do, but he just did it. So that's just like I was thinking about, like this. He was just a nice guy. No wonder he went into medicine. Like, no wonder he was, you know, his mom had been sick and that was one reason. But also he was just, I think, I know people say that when someone happens to somebody, but he really was just a nice guy.

[Patia Eaton]

Nikki learned that members of Brian's favorite band, Pearl Jam, even took an interest in his disappearance.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

He was really big into Pearl Jam. He had a. He has a Pearl Jam tattoo. And Eddie Vedder even has mentioned him in a couple concerts about him being missing, which, which is just like, so sad that he would, he would love for Eddie Vedder to even know his name. But the reason why he knows his name is what's so sad? You know, I mean, like, it just, that's what breaks your heart. He just was a really nice guy. I was talking to my friend about this a few years ago. Like, we can't remember one thing like that. He, he never broke a girl's heart. Loves music. He loves music. He loves music. And I, I just find it so ironic that Eddie Vedder, like, said something about him at a concert because he would have died. To think that he better even knew it existed.

[Jack Vanik]

As recently as 2021, the FBI released an age progressed image of Brian at age 42. Tips still come in, but none have produced credible leads. Columbus Police Department and the FBI still list him as a missing person.

[Patia Eaton]

And what I will say is, like, I asked ChatGPT what they think it is and you know, they just crunch numbers, do algorithms. I call it a they because I don't know what to call it. This bot. And they are like an Occam's razor thinker. Yeah, you know, processor. And according to ChatGPT, it believes that the most plausible theory is that there was foul play likely inside or right near the bar. But again, you know, that means that Brian was killed in this bar and his body hidden and never found. And like, think about all the acrobatics and movements and planning and covering up that would require. It's really hard to understand how that would have happened, but really you can poke holes in every single one of these possibilities.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

That's for every time I go down a road where I'm like, okay, this could be it. I think, well, how would nobody notice? That would take an entire group of people knowing that he was hurt or something. And how are you going to have. For 20 years almost. These, this were my brain, Sorry. I remember. This is where my brain, like, how can you have all these people know if you got hurt in there? And I took them out in the trash, somebody said, a trash can, I don't know. And then it gets so built up in your head that you're like, if it is something very simple, why haven't we figured it out? You know, the more people that know something, they say, I'm not a detective, but usually some, you know, the more people that know, less likely to keep the secret.

[Jack Vanik]

To this day, tips about Brian still get called in.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

A few years ago, they thought they spotted a guy in Mexico that looks like Brian, but it was not Brian. So it's just, it's just baffling.

[Jack Vanik]

Brian had big plans, but he didn't get the opportunity to pursue any of them. Brian's former classmates and friends, like Nikki, got to live their lives.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

I'm that person in the family, you know, that's listening to way too many of them. But my daughter, Florida. So it does serve for me to give people advice. Like, my daughter's just turned 18 and which is crazy to me. Like, like I remember when I was 18, like it feels like it was yesterday. Like a few years ago we had our 20 year union and a lot of us spoke about Brian and like how we have, you know, gotten married and we started careers, we've started new careers, some of us have gotten divorced. Like, not me, but other people. And then we had children and Brian is still stuck at like 26. Like, it's heartbreaking.

[Patia Eaton]

For now, we all have to live with the fact that none of us may ever know what happened.

[Nikki (Friend of Brian)]

Yeah. And then you build it up in your head that if it's something like that, then you're kind of like, that's it. Like, I don't want it to be anything horrible. I'd rush. I wish she was on island somewhere. Like in a band. But then when it's. If it's. Then when you hear something like that, you're like. You're kind of like, oh, well, he deserved a little bit. Something a little bit bigger than that. You feel like because it's been building up for so long that you're just like, oh, somebody robbed him. Yeah. You feel like at this point, as much as he's built up, like, he deserves to be like, he was abducted by aliens and now he's the king of Mars. I don't know what it would be that would make it. Nothing would make it right. Obviously.

[Patia Eaton]

There is no arguing that Brian Schaefer's disappearance remains one of the most baffling in modern American history. And despite not knowing what happened for sure, his case became a cautionary tale in discussions about campus safety, surveillance blind spots, and what law enforcement can and can't do when someone vanishes. And while the answer to this mystery remains hotly debated, what is crystal clear is that Brian was loved. His father, Randy, remains an outspoken advocate for missing persons. Until his actions. Accidental death in 2008. And Alexis's quiet but persistent visibility helped keep Brian in the spotlight. It's been more than 18 years since Brian Shaffer walked into the Ugly Tuna Saloona and never walked out. His face still appears on missing persons posters, and Brian's story still haunts everyone who hears it. Because if a man can vanish under cameras in a bar full of people in the middle of a busy city, what does that say about the rest of us? We live in a world of footprints, fingerprints, pings, pixels. And yet Brian left nothing behind. No goodbyes, no evidence of struggle, and no second chance. Someone knows what happened that night. And until they speak, Brian remains exactly where he's been since April 1, 2006. Missing.

[Jack Vanik]

A huge thank you to Nikki for being our first degree for today's episode. If you are listening out there and you have a story to tell, please email us hello@the first degree podcast.com Follow us on Instagram. Join our Facebook page. We're talking talking true crime all the time. Join the underground. You can do that on Patreon or by Apple podcast subscriptions. It's super easy. Just click the button and you're in over 150 episodes for you for you to listen to. Join our book club if you want to read with us. We are reading Misery by Stephen King this month and stick around. Tomorrow we'll have a brand new episode of the Deep Dive right in your feed.

[Patia Eaton]

And remember, only you can prevent serial killers and keep your friends close, but not that close. Shout out to Jared Monaco for scoring original music for the First Degree. Sources for this episode include the Columbus Dispatch, People Magazine, CNN, ABC, America's Most Wanted, NBC's Dateline, ABC's Primetime, the Charlie Project, the FBI, Namus, and remember, our first degree guest is always our largest source.

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