True Crime Garage: Brian Shaffer /// 20 Years Missing /// Timeline /// Part 2

Release Date: February 11, 2026
Hosts: Nic and the Captain
Guest/Expert: Kelly (investigator)

Episode Overview

This episode is the second part of True Crime Garage’s deep-dive into the Brian Shaffer disappearance case, marking 20 years since the Ohio State medical student vanished in 2006. Hosts Nic and the Captain, joined by investigator Kelly, break down the crucial days after Brian was last seen at the Ugly Tuna Saloona, examine police, family, and media responses, and unravel the movements reported by technology and eyewitness accounts. The conversation maintains True Crime Garage’s trademark blend of thorough research, authentic dialogue, and candid, occasionally humorous, banter.

Key Timeline & Investigation Breakdowns

Saturday, April 1 (The Day After Brian Was Seen)

• Clint’s Actions (Brian's Friend):
  • Picks up his car from Brian’s apartment but doesn't check in with Brian directly—just leaves a voicemail.
  • "Hey, I lost you last night." — Clint's voicemail (01:26)
• Brian's Absence:
  • Fails to show at his dad Randy’s house to help clean/paint; doesn’t show at plans with friends Matt and Melanie Ryan.
• No Digital Activity:
  • “All day Saturday, there was no cell phone activity or credit card activity for anything have to do with Brian’s account.” — Kelly (02:49)

Sunday, April 2 (Growing Concern)

• Searches Begin:
  • Alexis (Brian’s girlfriend), Clint, Meredith, Derek (Brian’s brother), and Randy check Brian’s apartment and local jails/hospitals.
  • Apartment appears undisturbed: bed made, shower dry, nothing unusual.
• Police Reluctance:
  • When attempted to file a report:
    • “It had not been 48 hours and... it was completely legal for an adult to go missing...” — Officer’s response (05:00)
• Family & Friends Take Action:
  • Search neighborhoods, dumpsters, and campus; Alexis stays at Brian’s apartment overnight.

Monday, April 3 (Escalation)

• Airport Tension:
  • Alexis waits at the airport; Brian never arrives.
  • “...what’s more concerning is he doesn’t show up to his apartment before it’s time to leave.” — Host 1 (08:23)
• Official Report Filed:
  • Alexis and Randy file the missing persons report.
• Tech Measures:
  • Columbus PD requests surveillance from Gateway, starts a $3,500 cell phone ping service via Singular Wireless.
  • “The phone has to be on for there to be a signal.” — Nick (10:13)

Early Police & Media Response

• Pings & Surveillances:
  • Phone shows movement around Columbus, suggesting it is active after Brian vanishes.
  • News and campus media begin covering the disappearance heavily:
    • “It was all over all of the local news.” — Kelly (14:00)
• Alleged Sighting:
  • Known homeless man says he saw Brian by United Dairy Farmers near Ugly Tuna, but reliability is questioned due to his alcoholism.
    • “...he yelled out to Brian and said, 'Hey man, they’re looking for you.' ...the man struggled with alcohol a lot too, and was not always credible.” — Kelly (18:27)

Physical Searches & Community Efforts

• Thorough Searches:
  • Columbus PD and Randy (Brian’s father) hire different canine units to search the Ugly Tuna Saloona, the Gateway complex, surrounding construction areas, manholes, and the landfill.
    • “It was probably the most searched location throughout the whole investigation...” — Kelly (20:00)
  • Apartment later gets broken into—a TV and DVDs stolen. Break-ins are common in the area at the time.

Cell Phone Mystery

• Ping Movement (April):
  • Phone pings throughout Columbus: OSU Campus, Grove City, Greenlawn Ave, Scioto Downs, Hilliard/Kenny and Lane.
    • “...the phone is moving, it’s active, and it’s moving... [these] are a good amount of distance.” — Nick (35:10)
  • Conclusion: Evidence only that the phone was moving, not necessarily Brian.
• September 2006—Phone “Rings” Again:
  • Suddenly, Brian’s phone rings instead of going straight to voicemail, but turns out to be a network glitch due to tower overload, not proof of life or location.
    • “...it was only due to an overloaded tower and the phone was... handed off to another tower.” — Kelly (32:10)

Notable Moments & Quotes

Skepticism and Emotional Tone

• Skepticism on Sightings:
  • “There are would be a lot of persons that look like a white male in their mid-20s dressed like a college student out in the middle of the night on a weekend.” — Nick (17:16)
• Difficulty of the Case:
  • “This case is difficult... it’s not just about the Ugly Tuna. It’s about this complex...a very large parking garage...makes it a lot more complex...” — Host 1 (24:02)

Family & Community Impact

• Randy Shaffer’s Advocacy:
  • After 2006, Brian’s father continues pushing media awareness and advocacy for missing persons.
  • “He got his picture on the side of a race car. He got him covered on several different channels...” — Kelly (44:00)
• Randy’s Tragic Death:
  • In September 2008, Randy is killed by a falling branch during a storm, adding to the family’s tragedy.
    • “Derek lost his whole immediate family within two and a half years.” — Kelly (53:22)
    • “His passing then sparked some weird activity...” — Host 1 (46:39)

The “Legacy.com” Message

• Controversial Online Message:
  • Obituary message: “I love you, Dad, Brian (US Virgin Islands)” posted from a Hilliard public library computer; CPD unable to identify poster, but the US Virgin Islands had appeared as an early tip.
    • “How many coincidences can there be in one case? ...I feel like there’s a bunch in Brian’s case.” — Kelly (51:03)
    • Nick raises questions about library computer access controls and the possibility someone familiar with Brian or the case left the message (49:00–52:10).

Other Theories and Early Investigative Roadblocks

• No Evidence for Foul Play or Planned Disappearance:
  • Brian’s guitars and personal effects left behind—no clear sign of voluntary disappearance.
    • “If somebody...went into the apartment and there were items like his guitar missing, I think that would be giant red flags that he was there.” — Host 1 (41:46)
• Police Checked for Family Involvement:
  • Cadaver dogs brought to Randy's house after a tip; searches find nothing (de facto clearing Randy).
    • “There was actually a tip...that Randy Schafer had killed Brian and buried him in his backyard.” — Kelly (26:16)
• Multiple Witness Sightings (April 1):
  • 2 separate people—one a neighbor of the family—claim to have seen Brian hitchhiking in Pickerington, his hometown, but reliability is debated.
    • “They are saying, we saw Brian Schaefer hitchhiking on 270.” — Kelly and Nick (38:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• (01:22) – Morning after disappearance: friend and family note Brian’s absences
• (03:21–06:00) – Friends/family start searching, attempt to file police report
• (08:23) – Girlfriend waits at airport—Brian fails to appear
• (10:13–12:00) – Police initiate phone ping service; local media coverage begins
• (19:03–24:24) – Details of searches and canine involvement
• (32:10–34:35) – Breaking down phone pings, tower movements, and technological limitations
• (38:12–40:07) – First eye-witness sightings debated
• (45:15–46:47) – Death of Randy Shaffer and the effect on the case
• (46:47–51:46) – Legacy.com post and digital/evidence analysis

Memorable Discussion Highlights

“There's nothing really unique about Brian. ...the problem with an individual going missing that doesn't have a unique look or some unique feature, you're going to have a lot of individuals claiming that they possibly saw Brian.”
— Host 1 (17:46)

“The thoroughness of the intent on behalf of CPD and the Schaefer family...just points towards the thoroughness or at least the intention of being very thorough in this search.”
— Nick (22:19)

“I have no evidence that Brian actually had his phone on him when he went missing. We just know that his phone is missing as well.”
— Kelly (36:48)

Episode Takeaways

• The weeks following Brian’s disappearance were a frenzy of searches, dead ends, media attention, and emotional strain for family and friends.
• Despite widespread efforts and a handful of intriguing clues—especially technological (phone pings) and witness sightings—no conclusive evidence emerged.
• The odd recurrence of Hilliard, Ohio, in both phone data and the Legacy.com post remains an unresolved curiosity.
• Family tragedy is compounded as all immediate Schaefer members, aside from Brian's brother Derek, are gone within two and a half years.
• The upcoming installment promises to delve into theories and new findings from Kelly’s own investigative work.

To be continued in Part 3...
“Be good. Be kind. And don’t litter.” — True Crime Garage tagline (End of episode)