True Crime Garage

Brian Shaffer /// 20 Years Missing /// Timeline /// Part 1

Original Airdate: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Nic and the Captain
Special Guest: Kelly (Co-Host of the "Comeback" Podcast and Operator of the Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive Facebook Page)

Episode Overview

This episode marks the 20th anniversary of the enigmatic disappearance of Brian Shaffer, a second-year medical student at Ohio State University who vanished without a trace after a night out at the Ugly Tuna Saloona in Columbus, Ohio on March 31, 2006. True Crime Garage revisits the case with newly uncovered details, fresh perspectives, and expert input from Kelly—an investigative advocate deeply involved in the search for answers. The conversation offers a thorough timeline of Brian’s life in the months leading to his disappearance, examines the interpersonal dynamics in the Schaefer family, and unpacks major theories and misconceptions about the night Brian went missing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Case Introduction: The Setup and Immediacy of the Mystery

• Brian Schaefer's Profile: Charismatic, ambitious, second-year med student, recently bereaved (lost his mother Renee).
• The Disappearance: Last seen at 1:55 am on March 31, 2006, on surveillance at the Ugly Tuna Saloona. Despite exhaustive efforts, no video of Brian leaving the building exists, his credit cards and phone unused, and no confirmed sightings ever surfaced.
• Quote:

  "It was as if he had simply vanished into thin air." — Host 1, [05:30]

Kelly’s Entry into the Investigation

• Personal Involvement: Kelly became involved in 2018 after running out of information online, connected with Lori Davis (family advocate), and started “March for the Missing” to raise awareness.
• Podcast Genesis: Introduced to Nicholas West, co-hosting “Comeback” podcast, leading to direct interviews with key figures (detectives, family, crime stoppers).
• Quote:

  "I actually didn't even know what a podcast was at that time. And Nick sent me a True Crime Garage episode of your coverage on Brian's case. And after that, I decided that I could help him. I guess the rest is kind of history." — Kelly, [08:20]

Timeline: Summer 2005 – March 31, 2006

The Lead-Up:

• Puerto Rico Trip (Summer 2005): Important formative experience—volunteering, repeated visits, met girlfriend Alexis Wagner upon return.
• Renee’s Illness and the Miami Trip Gift: Christmas 2005, Brian’s mother gave him a Miami spring break trip (with Alexis).
• Family Tension Intensifies: Brian reveals his father Randy’s affair to his dying mother, resulting in a change to life insurance, cutting Randy’s share.
• Quote:

  "Renee did get that referral, and she did give that referral to Brian… she knew that it needed to be a nice ring from a reputable jeweler." — Kelly, [11:25]

Financial Transactions and Behavior:

• Unusual Payments: Large tuition check ($4,500 from Randy) never turned in/cashed, Brian pays off large credit card debts ($7,387.15 and $6,746.94) from sources unknown, not his own accounts.

• Quote:

  "The $135 payment to Discover was paid from Brian's checking account on the same day Brian paid the balance in full of his Amazon Visa card, which was $7,387.15. That payment did not come from Brian's checking account or any other account that I have information on of Brian's." — Kelly, [16:22]

• Mother’s Death and Funeral (March 2006): Brian is late to the funeral (90 minutes), tension with brother Derek (shoving match); reportedly overslept after drinking.

• Struggles with Grief: Brian expressed desire to “run away” with Alexis after his mother’s passing, but no solid plan.

Key Relationships & Dynamics

• Randy (Father): Tension post-affair revelation; after Renee's death, disputes regarding inheritance and payment for Brian's education.
• Derek (Brother): Initially distant, then attempting to grow closer post-mother’s death.
• Friends: Known for being a party instigator and sometimes wandering off at the end of nights out.

March 31, 2006 – The Night Brian Disappeared (Detailed Timeline)

Daytime & Evening:

• 1:20 pm: Calls with Alexis (on her drive to Toledo).
• 6:45 pm: Calls Derek for dinner (declined).
• 7 - 8 pm: Dinner at Outback Steakhouse with Randy; reported tension over inheritance and education financing.

Night Out:

• 9:00 pm: Final calls to Alexis; Clint (friend) arrives at Brian’s apartment, brief hangout with Randy.
• 9:51 pm: Brian and Clint first arrive at Ugly Tuna (1st visit).
• Bar Hopping:
  • Short North Tavern at 11:00 pm
  • Brothers Bar at 11:45 pm
  • Several calls and messages with friends across the night—multiple attempts to meet up with more friends (cell records cited in great detail, [30:20] onward).
• Re-Entry to Ugly Tuna Saloona:
  • Brian, Clint, and Meredith return at 1:15 am.
  • Surveillance shows them arriving, then Brian wandering off, briefly disappearing and reappearing, talking with Amber and Brighton (two women) near the entrance.

The Disappearance:

• 1:55 am: Final confirmed sighting of Brian on surveillance near bar’s entrance.
• 1:58 am: Amber, Brighton, and mystery woman leave.
• 2:01 am: Meredith calls Brian’s phone; no answer; she and Clint search, then exit at 2:09 am.
• Aftermath:

  "Clint and Meredith realize that they don't see Brian. They proceeded to walk around the bar several times, even checking both restrooms." — Kelly, [35:30]

Noted Social Dynamic:

• Clint, Meredith, and Brian: Meredith reportedly attracted to Brian; Clint attracted to Meredith (they began dating that night).

Popular Myths, Major Theories, and Debunked Ideas

The Band Theory:

• Popular speculation that the house band (Rock House) was involved—possibly smuggled Brian out or worse.
• Direct New Evidence:
  • Kelly and Nicholas West identified the band's name.
  • The Captain personally knows the band members and confirms their accounts (including witnesses).
  • The band and others left through a back exit not always visible on public surveillance; police did not question them until nearly two years later, by coincidence.
  • Physical Improbability: Carrying/dismembering Brian (6’2”) in instrument cases is highly unlikely.
• Notable Quote:

  "First of all, I know all three of these band members and they're good guys, upstanding guys… So you're making the—the Internet with this theory is making these giant leaps." — Host 1, [45:25] "I kind of think we can stomp out that theory that the band had something to do with his disappearance that night." — Host 1, [47:00] "I'd like to point out, too, with the timeline, it really doesn't allow for the band theory to even be possible." — Kelly, [48:50]

Security & Surveillance Realities:

• Two CPD officers hired for security at the bar; would not have left until all patrons and employees gone, making a cover-up or mass collusion implausible.
• "A man walks into a bar and is never seen leaving." — Host 1, [51:51] (defining the mystery's chilling allure and perplexity)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We all grieve very, very differently, and we all have different relationships with people who pass away."
  — Host 2 (addressing speculation about family conflicts and Brian's behavior), [20:38]
• "He had a habit of wandering off towards the end of the night and they would see him a day or two later. So this was something that he did."
  — Kelly, [37:27]
• "So what these individuals told me is… they packed up their stuff like normal, but they had a small crowd of friends there… And none of these individuals were ever seen on surveillance footage because they took a back way exit."
  — Host 1, [42:45]

Timeline Table of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 06:32 | Show proper begins; 20-year retrospective premise & new information intro | | 08:06 | Kelly shares how she became involved | | 10:07 | Overview of Brian’s 2005 summer, meeting Alexis, mother’s illness, and family tensions | | 14:45 | Financial anomalies and tuition check timeline | | 18:13 | Family dynamics after Renee's (mother) death | | 23:56 | Begins detailed March 31, 2006 timeline | | 31:27 | Introduction of Amber & Brighton (key witnesses seen with Brian on surveillance) | | 34:19 | 1:15am, Brian, Clint, Meredith return to Ugly Tuna; description of surveillance footage | | 35:50 | The critical minutes—Brian’s disappearance, friends’ search, failing to find him before leaving | | 38:59 | Clarifies why they returned to Ugly Tuna—efforts to meet up with more friends | | 40:10 | "Band theory" detailed and systematically debunked | | 44:39 | Assessment of physical impossibility of moving Brian's body undetected | | 47:01 | Police did not officially interview band until two years later—by chance | | 49:10 | Kelly and hosts highlight police presence and security protocols at bar | | 51:51 | Summary of the case's lasting mystique and the 'legend' of Brian's vanishing |

Closing & Calls to Action

• Announcement:
  20-year memorial event April 18, 2026, at BrewDog Canal Winchester supporting the Porch Light Project.

  "We're doing an event at Brewdog… we'll be doing a panel where we discuss things that we've been talking about on this podcast and other information that we gather until the event." — Host 1, [52:00]

Tone and Style

• Candid, knowledgeable, and at times warm or humorous, the hosts and guest maintain a respectful yet engaging tone, balancing facts, speculation, and personal anecdotes.

For Listeners

• Next Episode: The conversation will continue—expect more information and discussion as the hosts dig deeper into the remaining unsolved aspects of the Brian Shaffer case.

Summary Verdict

This episode is an essential listen for true crime fans interested in unsolved disappearances, blending meticulous research, exclusive interviews, timeline clarification, and fresh myth-busting. It untangles decades of rumors with crisp, transparent storytelling, leaving the listener both better informed and wanting more.

"A man walks into a bar and is never seen leaving… and his disappearance remains one of the most baffling missing persons cases in modern American history." — Host 1, [05:30, 51:51]