OH OH - Brian Shaffer, 27, Columbus, 1 Apr 2006 #5

[Martinie]

I've been digging into this again against my better judgement mainly because I end up going down a rabbit hole usually more than once. I have literally hundreds of hours into this case but I don't claim to be an expert on the subject of Brian Shaffer. The other day I went over Brian's phone bill again for as many times that I have done that I actually found a few new pieces of info. I'm not kidding myself that it will lead to anything or the I have found anything the that police don't know which is doubtful at best. I'll share as much as I can. I really wish that the police at this point would be more transparent. Everyone needs to throw the info out there so we can find out what happened to Brian before it gets to the point that if by chance someone killed him they would end up not being alive themselves.

I had the chance to speak to Det. Hurst a while back. I want to say up front that I am not privy to secret info just because I talked to him. He is not going to tell anyone things that he's not allowed to. What it did do was to dispel some of the common myths and give me a better understanding of the timeline. I'm of the believe that Brian made it out of the building. The police meaning everyone on the case to my understanding think the same. Anyone else who has a different opinion is welcome to it. A lot of what I write is just my opinion. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything I couldn't care less about differing opinions.

If you watch the video of Brian outside the Tuna we will see that he walks off camera at 1:55 am and 40 sec. From the interview that Brightan gave she excused herself to the bathroom. I have been to the Tuna and when you walk into the bar you make a right and go down to the second to the last door to the women's restroom. The last door is or was the fire escape door which on that night was open as people would go into that hallway to smoke. We can't know exactly when although the police do when Brightan and Amber left and maybe someone here knows the exact time, but I would make a guess that Brightan was gone for roughly 3 minutes. That's from the time she walked away till the time she got back. From what I remember Brightan said that she didn't look back to see where Brian went as she went down the escalator.

When I was at the Tuna I immediately took notice that as I sat at the bar (literally no one but me and a friend was there), that I could see directly out to where Brian would have been standing. The first thing I thought was I'll bet Brian saw Clint and Meredith coming and went out the back way. It's sad because if Clint would have come out just one minute sooner maybe this wouldn't have happened. Many people think that Brian took off because him and Clint got into an argument and I think that could be true but I also think Brian had other plans that he may or may not wanted Clint to know.

There is much controversy about Brian's phone being shut off or that he fell in a hole and his phone quit working. The simple explanation is that once Brian got into the elevator and down into the construction site he lost signal momentarily .This makes sense since his phone pinged a tower at 2:11 am. I know from experience that I will lose my signal at my local convenience store as I walk towards the back even if I am against the side wall. Makes no sense to me but that's what happens.

I will post some pics from E-News that show what the construction site looked like. Unfortunately this was filmed not on a VCR but someone using a camera videoing their TV screen. So you will see a reflection above of someone filming it. As you can see in the photos there was an outer parameter which is common during construction for the workers to walk. Since Brian was not spotted on camera going out the side door facing the garage he would have went right which is exactly what the film crew is filming, there's a clue for you. According to Hurst the construction doors (see photo) were chained together and there was enough room for as Hurst put it, that he himself could have easily slipped through them. I believe that once Brian got out of there as he walked to where he was going his phone reconnected to a tower.

Brian made several phone calls that night to a few different guys. These guys all knew each other and they hung out together a lot. I don't know if Brian saw any of these guys before he got to the Tuna but I do know that they were at the Tuna on Brian's second go around. The odd thing is you never hear about these guys. I'm not sure if Brian was part of the group so to speak. He did have all their numbers. Brian did not as far as I know have a FB page but he did have a Myspace and none of them are on it unless they happen to unfriend him which I don't think they would do as it would seem suspicious IMO.

Going over his phone bill there was one number that I always had trouble identifying until today. The surprising thing to me is that this number a landline number is associated with an apt that is very close to Lane and Kenny. I was also able to find out who this number belonged to. I found this to be one of the biggest pieces of info because it shows in my opinion that Brian or at least his phone was likely to be at this apt when his phone pinged off the tower near Lane and Kenny. This is where people need to stop and think of this case as if it is someone else and not the big mysterious Brian vanished into thin air. This person (Brian) once exiting the bar met with someone and this someone either was with Brian or had his phone. If this was a missing woman and her phone pinged very near he boyfriend's house I don't think there would be much disagreement as to what happened. From here it gets more complicated or so it seems. I'm going to try and see what I can find as far as a Hilliard connection. I actually have seen some possible Hilliard connections but I haven't had a chance to dig into them yet. The trouble is this was so many years ago it's like a puzzle and you have to try and fit the timeline together from 2006.

How did you get his phone bill and call records?

 

[itsrak]

I've gone though most of the pages of the multiple threads on Brian's disappearance here. One thing I've been wondering is how embufum got a hold of Brian's cellphone records. That's quite the piece of evidence to have access to. Are they publicly available?

So, if you don't mind my asking, what do you, fresh to this case, think happened to Brian Randall Shaffer? Ran off to new life? Suicide? Murdered by someone he knew? Killed via street crime? Dead in accident outside the complex? Dead in accident inside the complex? Beamed up by aliens? Other?

I'd be curious to know what embufum thinks these days as well.

And also that gal - the one who interviewed Hurst some years back - who's been on this case.

Sad tale, but one hell of a mystery.

BRIAN RANDALL SHAFFER - COLUMBUS, OHIO | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Columbus, Ohio April 1, 2006

www.fbi.gov

 

[neesaki]

Come back @embufum . We have questions!

 

[evilwise]

I've been to plenty of High Street bars back then including Ugly Tuna when that construction was going on and I've never thought it was that mysterious that someone could have left them without showing up on security camera. Lord knows it was easy enough to walk right into them without going by the doorman, which I believe was intentional to allow underage students access without legal liability.

Just the presence of the site right next door has always led me to additionally assume that he's buried under the foundation of that new building now and will never, ever be found just like I assume Tyler Davis ended up in one of those swamps up by Easton that has since been filled in.

I certainly haven't deeply sleuthed either of these cases and this is more a matter of personal insight. I have been wasted, stumbling around the streets of Columbus and I have while sober observed others doing so. There's a sort of illusion of safety to be in a city, like certainly somebody would be there to help you if you got yourself into a fix - but in reality that's not necessarily so. I'm not saying that I think either of them were murdered (although I and especially girls I've been with have gotten some suspicious invitations). I'm just saying that young men out partying disappear like clockwork and while it's most common for them to end up in a river, if you end up under an urban development your bones never float to the surface.

 

[itsrak]

I've been to plenty of High Street bars back then including Ugly Tuna when that construction was going on and I've never thought it was that mysterious that someone could have left them without showing up on security camera. Lord knows it was easy enough to walk right into them without going by the doorman, which I believe was intentional to allow underage students access without legal liability.

Just the presence of the site right next door has always led me to additionally assume that he's buried under the foundation of that new building now and will never, ever be found just like I assume Tyler Davis ended up in one of those swamps up by Easton that has since been filled in.

I certainly haven't deeply sleuthed either of these cases and this is more a matter of personal insight. I have been wasted, stumbling around the streets of Columbus and I have while sober observed others doing so. There's a sort of illusion of safety to be in a city, like certainly somebody would be there to help you if you got yourself into a fix - but in reality that's not necessarily so. I'm not saying that I think either of them were murdered (although I and especially girls I've been with have gotten some suspicious invitations). I'm just saying that young men out partying disappear like clockwork and while it's most common for them to end up in a river, if you end up under an urban development your bones never float to the surface.

Bones, clothes, phone, wallet, cards...dreams....
Did you ever shop at the Sunflower Market, which is what the 'construction area' became?
Here is an article about the 15,000 sq. ft. store, and photo of the store, dated 5/1/07, 13 months after Brian disappeared:

Sunflower Market: Taking the Bite Out of Organics | News

www.specialtyfood.com

The store was in business there for only 1.5 years before closing in February 2008. From a January 2008 article:
Sunflower Market stores going out of business

 

[evilwise]

Bones, clothes, phone, wallet, cards...dreams....
Did you ever shop at the Sunflower Market, which is what the 'construction area' became?
Here is an article about the 15,000 sq. ft. store, and photo of the store, dated 5/1/07, 13 months after Brian disappeared:

Sunflower Market: Taking the Bite Out of Organics | News

www.specialtyfood.com

The store was in business there for only 1.5 years before closing in February 2008. From a January 2008 article:
Sunflower Market stores going out of business

No. I've always resented that lot ever since the two story shopping center that had the Flamingo arcade in it was torn down.

 

[WaySheGoes]

So, if you don't mind my asking, what do you, fresh to this case, think happened to Brian Randall Shaffer? Ran off to new life? Suicide? Murdered by someone he knew? Killed via street crime? Dead in accident outside the complex? Dead in accident inside the complex? Beamed up by aliens? Other?

I'd be curious to know what embufum thinks these days as well.

And also that gal - the one who interviewed Hurst some years back - who's been on this case.

Sad tale, but one hell of a mystery.

BRIAN RANDALL SHAFFER - COLUMBUS, OHIO | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Columbus, Ohio April 1, 2006

www.fbi.gov

This is one of those cases that keeps me up at night. It’s indeed mysterious. If I had to settle on what I think happened, he either left out the emergency exit and met with foul play somehow, or he came to an unfortunate demise while still in that building, namely the construction site. Does anyone know if LE ever used ground penetrating radar to check for a possible body?

 

[ACG2x]

This is one of those cases that keeps me up at night. It’s indeed mysterious. If I had to settle on what I think happened, he either left out the emergency exit and met with foul play somehow, or he came to an unfortunate demise while still in that building, namely the construction site. Does anyone know if LE ever used ground penetrating radar to check for a possible body?

According to LE they used every available technology at the construction site and found nothing.

 

[WaySheGoes]

True Crime Garage has several podcast episodes about Brian Shaffer’s case, and it’s very comprehensive/informative.

 

[ErinC]

According to LE they used every available technology at the construction site and found nothing.

Right, everything available at the time. Wonder if there's any new technology that could possibly help?

 

[BeachSky]

This is one of those cases that keeps me up at night. It’s indeed mysterious. If I had to settle on what I think happened, he either left out the emergency exit and met with foul play somehow, or he came to an unfortunate demise while still in that building, namely the construction site. Does anyone know if LE ever used ground penetrating radar to check for a possible body?

I’ve always thought he must of fallen into a space somewhere somehow. Forever there.

Ambiguous loss is so horrific.
It’s haunting & heartbreaking.

MOO

 

[itsrak]

According to LE they used every available technology at the construction site and found nothing.

Yeah, every available technology. Except a $10 shovel.
After all, the construction area was 'completely dug up'.
If they'd tried a shovel instead of dogs (completely unreliable), may well have been case closed.

 

[Bbl2465]

A serial killer who already killed in the past could explain the "without a trace" disappearance. If he was killed, it could have been by someone who already did it in the past and learned to cover their tracks. A person with a vehicle could have lured him into the car anywhere between the UTS and his apartment, though likely closer to the UTS.

There have been disappearances that turned out to be murders where the victim was lured into a vehicle, killed, and then buried in a remote and obscure area with a lot of vegetation. Once in the vehicle, the evidence of a struggle that you'd expect there to be, be it DNA, the noise of a fight, torn clothing, weapons, etc. becomes contained in the vehicle.

Brian's phone may have been the last thing to have been disposed off, resulting in the pings. He could have been lured with the promise of drugs, a party, or sex.

I'm convinced he was the victim of at least 2 killers, one to subdue and another to drive them away before noticing.

 

[itsrak]

Yeah, every available technology. Except a $10 shovel.
After all, the construction area was 'completely dug up'.
If they'd tried a shovel instead of dogs (completely unreliable), may well have been case closed.

One of the hundreds of patrons of the Gateway complex that evening failed to exit by conventional means.
One of the hundreds of patrons of the Gateway complex that evening disappeared and apparently died.
Amazingly, in both instances that patron was Brian R. Shaffer.
Are Brian's failure to exit the complex by conventional means and his disappearance and likely death related?
Likely so. Related in a causative way? Likely so. The failure to exit the conventional way likely led to death.

 

[DD Byrd]

We're TOLD he didn't leave by any visible means of departure. LE is not mandated to disclose info if in regards to an ongoing criminal investigation.

Still, he likely didn't fall in a hole, get lost in a wall, or become boarded up in floorboards. These can be corroborated by, albeit alleged, thorough searches by multiple parties.

Back to "official"...can trained dogs miss scents? Yes. In that small of a potential hit area, and with a known possible (human) decomp, within such a short period of time? No.

He's not at UTS. IMO, he met with whoever, for whatever, and was killed/dumped that night.

 

[annpats]

He's not at UTS. IMO, he met with whoever, for whatever, and was killed/dumped that night.

But why? Why did whomever he was meeting kill him? What was the motive?

 

[DD Byrd]

But why? Why did whomever he was meeting kill him? What was the motive?

Potential robbery, drug deal gone bad, general sh*t talking...myriad reasons. In this particular case, I think something related to 1) avoiding his friends for a separate departure from UTS and 2) talking to the people that he did (caught on camera or not) might be the key.

Don't forget..."kill him" might not have been the goal, just the result.

 

[dotr]

If Brian was perceived as being too flirty, maybe he ticked some guy off and was unintentionally killed by a punch to the head or fall to the ground? speculation, imo.

 

[george14]

One of the hundreds of patrons of the Gateway complex that evening failed to exit by conventional means.
One of the hundreds of patrons of the Gateway complex that evening disappeared and apparently died.
Amazingly, in both instances that patron was Brian R. Shaffer.
Are Brian's failure to exit the complex by conventional means and his disappearance and likely death related?
Likely so. Related in a causative way? Likely so. The failure to exit the conventional way likely led to death.

I think it’s well established at this point that Brian was not the only person to leave without being seen. That was a statement made a while ago, along with that statement coming from the 2006 footage being blown up on a projection screen. I don’t have a ton of faith in that statement.

And even if Brian was the only one who walked out the back door, it’s not really that weird if he was the only one.

 

[itsrak]

I think it’s well established at this point that Brian was not the only person to leave without being seen.

AFAIK, it is not well established that Brian left, since there is no evidence that he ever left the complex. No sign of life outside the complex. Brian and Clint came in on the escalator, then they exited on the escalator, then Brian, Clint and Meredith later came in on the escalator, and then Clint and Meredith exited on the escalator. LE concluded that Brian did not exit a second time using the escalator like large majority of visitors exit. Hurst speculated that Brian may have entered the construction area. If he did, it is unknown if he made it out.