True Crime Garage: "Missing /// Tyler Davis /// Part 1"
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Hosts: Nic & The Captain
Guest: Brittany Davis (Tyler’s wife)
Case Discussed: Disappearance of Tyler Davis – Columbus, Ohio, February 24, 2019
Episode Overview
This episode marks the first part of a detailed exploration into the 2019 disappearance of Tyler Davis, a husband and father who vanished during a trip to Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. Hosts Nic and the Captain sit down with Brittany Davis, Tyler’s wife, who offers a candid account of the events leading to Tyler’s disappearance. The hosts aim to raise awareness and gather tips by diving deeply into the timeline, circumstances, and oddities surrounding the case.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Meet Tyler Davis & Context for the Trip
[06:00]
- How Tyler and Brittany Met: Brittany shares that she met Tyler in 2013 while he was her boss at a local franchise; they were friends first, began dating in 2016, and married in late 2017.
- Family Life: They have a young son, Aaron, and are typically homebodies due to Tyler’s demanding work schedule.
- Special Occasions: They only “go out” on birthdays and their anniversary, leaving Aaron with Tyler’s parents.
- Purpose of Trip: The trip to Easton Town Center was to celebrate Brittany’s birthday. Columbus was chosen primarily for its proximity to Tyler’s parents, who watched their son.
2. Timeline of Events on February 23-24, 2019
Late Start and Arrival
[08:20–11:01]
- Tyler works six days in a row and returns home late (3:30am) the night before the trip.
- The couple oversleeps, leaves later than intended, drops their son with grandparents, and checks into the Hilton at Easton at 4:58pm.
- Prior to going out, they shower and wait for Tyler’s friend (name omitted for privacy) to arrive.
Night Out at Easton
[11:33–15:00]
- They walk around Easton, visiting Bar Louie (~9:30pm) and Adobe Gila’s afterward.
- Drinks Consumed: Brittany describes her own and Tyler’s alcohol intake—they both have several drinks, mostly shots for Tyler (Tito’s vodka, scotch).
- Mood: “It was like we were happy… everyone was having a fun time.” – Brittany ([14:56]).
Visit to the Dollhouse (Gentleman’s Club)
[16:06–22:26]
- Suggestion to visit Dollhouse was Brittany’s, as a first-time experience ([14:56], [16:14]).
- They arrive around 12:45am, Feb 24.
- Vibe remains light; Brittany recounts meeting staff and observing the friendliness towards couples.
- Odd Moments: Brittany recalls two oddities on reflection: leaving her drink unattended while going outside to smoke, and a bouncer aggressively insisting they leave as the club closed, leading to a brief argument involving Tyler ([19:54–22:37]).
Return to Hilton via Uber
[32:51–38:46]
- Uber is ordered at 3:01am, arrives at the Hilton by 3:18am. Tyler dozes off in the car due to exhaustion.
- Upon arrival, Tyler wakes up disoriented, is cranky, and walks off with the friend instead of going into the hotel.
- Crucial Detail: “Not one time did he [Tyler] step into the doors. He literally, like, got out of the Uber...and after he started walking, he — if you were standing in front of the Hilton, he's literally going, like, diagonally to the left. Like, there's a bunch of condos right there, and that is the direction he's, like, walking in.” – Brittany ([38:32]).
Last Contacts with Tyler
[39:14–46:16]
- Brittany goes upstairs briefly to plug in her phone, is actively trying to call Tyler.
- 3:37am: Tyler calls Brittany, says he’s “just walking around the block smoking a cigarette,” apologizes, and says he’ll be right back ([43:02]).
- The friend returns alone, tells Brittany not to worry, and soon heads home ([44:26]).
- 4:10am: Tyler calls, says he sees the hotel and will be back in five minutes. States, “I'm walking through the woods, I see the hotel, I'll be there in like five minutes.” – Brittany ([43:44]).
- A minute later, Tyler calls again, but the connection remains silent for four seconds; calls to him after that immediately go to voicemail, suggesting his phone died ([44:42]).
Aftermath: Searching and Calling for Help
[46:16–56:28]
- Brittany, now alone and with little phone battery, calls her friend Harley for support while searching Easton’s grounds—describes the area as mostly deserted at 5am.
- After 25 minutes charging her phone and more searching, Brittany calls Tyler’s friends; none have heard from him.
- Adam, a former roommate, arrives to help search, scouring the area and hotel for Tyler for about an hour with no success.
- Video footage at Hilton is available but does not indicate Tyler entered the lobby.
- Brittany weighs calling Tyler’s parents and the police, realizing the situation is now a serious missing persons case ([56:28]).
Hosts’ Observations & Analysis
Timeline & Documentation
[22:51, 23:19, 23:31]
- Nick and Captain note Brittany’s level of detail (bank records, call logs, receipts), which helps reconstruct the timeline but also makes her self-conscious about “knowing too much.”
- The friend involved is unnamed throughout per his request, and some names are edited out in the episode.
Oddities and Red Flags
[24:39–27:37]
- The hosts discuss the atmosphere at Dollhouse, noting strict local liquor policies and typical closing protocols, suggesting nothing Brittany described was especially suspicious behavior for staff or the area’s bars.
- The timing of Tyler’s disappearance, his exhaustion, unfamiliarity with the area, and cold weather (29°F) are highlighted as important factors ([56:55]).
Behavior of Tyler’s Friend
[58:03–61:37]
- The hosts, especially Nick, question the friend’s actions—leaving Brittany after Tyler vanished. Given the timing of last calls and phone silence, they suggest most friends would stay.
- However, Captain notes Brittany was technically safe at a major hotel, and the friend may have underestimated the seriousness.
Phone and Key Card Confusion
[61:37–63:55]
- Some struggle with Brittany’s story about swapping hotel keys and rapidly dying phone batteries.
- Possible that confusion is due to stress, exhaustion, and Brittany re-checking her own timeline as she recounts events.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “This is the first time me and Tyler had ever drank together in a bar ever. And it was like we were having a fun time...”
— Brittany ([14:56]) - “Out of all of the—Tyler has never...even if...we had just gotten into an argument, he never just sleeps and walks out and just starts walking.”
— Brittany ([42:26]) - “I'm walking through the woods. I see the hotel. I'll be there in like five minutes.”
— Tyler to Brittany (as recounted by Brittany, [43:44]) - “As soon as I try to call him back...his phone is dead. And it's been dead ever since. Like, I call it every day.”
— Brittany ([44:42]) - “I have a difficult time with the battery charging of the phone and the battery life. A lot of that stuff doesn't add up to me.”
— The Captain ([63:55]) - “Once you decide you have to call the cops, then this is becoming very serious.”
— Nic ([64:50])
Key Timestamps
- 03:00 – Missing poster details for Tyler Davis
- 06:00 – Brittany introduces her relationship with Tyler
- 08:11–11:01 – Day-of timeline: Tyler’s exhaustion, late start, check-in
- 12:49–14:56 – Drinks consumed and vibe of the night out
- 16:06–22:37 – Dollhouse visit, oddities, closing time
- 32:51–38:46 – Uber ride back; Tyler’s confusion, leaves with friend
- 39:14–44:42 – Brittany’s attempts to contact Tyler; timeline of calls
- 44:42–46:16 – Last call with Tyler, phone dies
- 49:43–53:46 – Early searches, Adam arrives, hotel video footage
- 56:28–58:58 – Realization: time to call parents, police
- 58:03–61:37 – Hosts discuss friend’s actions, hotel key confusion
- 63:51 – Captain questions battery/phone confusion
- 64:50 – Next steps: contacting family and authorities
Tone & Style
- Casual, candid, and empathetic—nic and Captain maintain their typical laid-back “garage” banter, while treating the case and Brittany with respect.
- Brittany is open, sometimes emotional, slightly nervous but earnest; she’s meticulous and sincere in conveying events.
Summary: For Listeners New to the Story
In Part 1 of the Tyler Davis case, listeners receive an in-depth, almost-minute-by-minute breakdown of Tyler’s last known hours, based on the firsthand account of his wife, Brittany. The night started as a rare outing for a hardworking couple but swiftly devolved into a mystery as Tyler, exhausted, tipsy, and disoriented in an unfamiliar urban landscape, vanished after saying he was walking around the hotel area. Multiple calls, hotel searches, and frantic outreach to friends yielded no results. The episode leaves off at the tipping point: Brittany's realization that this weird night has become every spouse's nightmare—a loved one is missing, and the next call must be to the family and police.
If you have any information regarding Tyler Davis’ disappearance, contact the Columbus Police Department at (614) 645-4545.
Tyler’s photo and case details are available at TrueCrimeGarage.com.
End of Part 1. (To be continued in Part 2...)