• #181
Here are two more episodes (Episodes 5 and 6) about Brian's disappearance from True Crime Garage released on Feb 17th
 
  • #182
I highly recommend the TCG episodes, I learned things I didn't know before. Changed my suspicions on the case.
I just added the last two the True Crime Garage released yesterday. I am so torn on what to believe.
 
  • #183
I find it interesting that now they have essentially confirmed Brian was gay/bi/experimenting with men. That adds an entirely new angle here. That was long rumored but I never heard anything directly. It doesn't change my opinion that Brian met his fate that night or shortly thereafter, but I would be looking at his calls and texts much more closely now. I wonder if he had a past with any of the other guys he was with that night or if someone he was newly acquainted with had something to do with it?

The angle about his dad is also interesting. It has crossed my mind before, but I still find it hard to believe he was involved. One would think evidence as left behind at Brian's apartment, someone's car, etc.
 
  • #184
I just added the last two the True Crime Garage released yesterday. I am so torn on what to believe.
Can you give cliff notes to new info and theories? I'm not sure when I will get a chance to listen to 6 episodes and I'm so curious.
 
  • #185
I find it interesting that now they have essentially confirmed Brian was gay/bi/experimenting with men. That adds an entirely new angle here. That was long rumored but I never heard anything directly. It doesn't change my opinion that Brian met his fate that night or shortly thereafter, but I would be looking at his calls and texts much more closely now. I wonder if he had a past with any of the other guys he was with that night or if someone he was newly acquainted with had something to do with it?

The angle about his dad is also interesting. It has crossed my mind before, but I still find it hard to believe he was involved. One would think evidence as left behind at Brian's apartment, someone's car, etc.
I agree with you. I know rumors were going around before about his sexuality, but if they have confirmation, that angle could have something to do with his disappearance. Or did he fake his disappearance so he could go live out that life style?

Also, I do wonder if his dad could have had something to do with his disappearance. They straight out said his dad would never approve of his son being gay. They also said his dad drank a lot and was cheating on his wife while she was going through cancer, which maybe is other reason why Brian didn't care for his dad.

Also mentioned that someone sent in a tip that Brian's brother was responsible for his disappearance.

So many different angles
 
  • #186
Can you give cliff notes to new info and theories? I'm not sure when I will get a chance to listen to 6 episodes and I'm so curious.
I just named a few in the post above. I am listening while I was driving and sitting at my desk at work. They list so many different angles.
 
  • #187
I agree with you. I know rumors were going around before about his sexuality, but if they have confirmation, that angle could have something to do with his disappearance. Or did he fake his disappearance so he could go live out that life style?

Also, I do wonder if his dad could have had something to do with his disappearance. They straight out said his dad would never approve of his son being gay. They also said his dad drank a lot and was cheating on his wife while she was going through cancer, which maybe is other reason why Brian didn't care for his dad.

Also mentioned that someone sent in a tip that Brian's brother was responsible for his disappearance.

So many different angles
IMO, if we're treating it as a fact that he was experimenting with his sexuality, the most obvious angle that raises is a jilted male lover reacting to brian's plans to propose to his girlfriend.
 
  • #188
  • #189
I used to think it was some type of accident, fell asleep in a dumpster, fell in the river. After watching thru episode 4 of the tcg podcast, I lean more to walk off. After 5&6, I still lean that way, but would like to know more about everything going on with his social circle between his disappearance and the next day.
 
  • #190
Was it Randy? Ehh probably not but when I looked at this case many years ago I remembered an article where Randy said Brian was supposed to go to his place back home on Saturday. Now, it’s a college kid not showing up after a night of drinking but he didn’t seem too concerned about it which makes sense. Randy did have the motive to be fair, but he did a voluntarily lie detector test, had his home searched with dogs and advocated for his disappearance.
 
  • #191
IMO, if we're treating it as a fact that he was experimenting with his sexuality, the most obvious angle that raises is a jilted male lover reacting to brian's plans to propose to his girlfriend.
I agree!
 
  • #192
Can you give cliff notes to new info and theories? I'm not sure when I will get a chance to listen to 6 episodes and I'm so curious.
Randy and Brian had a fight over Brian telling his mom about Randy’s infidelity.

She removed Randy from the life insurance.

Brian was late to the funeral. Derek was mad about that.

Randy was an at least sometimes fall down drunk.

Randy was inappropriate smacking Alexis’ butt when she was waiting for Brian before the planned trip.

Randy suspected Clint. A lot. This lead Randy’s PI to suspect Randy.

There were 10+ acquaintances/friends of Brian&Clint around the Saloona that night.

Yeah, you should skim the transcript at least! Much of it comes from a great investigator lady I forget the name of.

It’s a call to action - never before seen clips are up at their webpage - for everybody to analyze.

And there’s a Columbus (I think) live event in April.
 
Last edited:
  • #193
Randy and Brian had a fight over Brian telling his mom about Randy’s infidelity.

She removed Randy from the life insurance.

Brian was late to the funeral. Derek was mad about that.

Randy was an at least sometimes fall down drunk.

Randy was inappropriate smacking Alexis’ butt when she was waiting for Brian before the planned trip.

Randy suspected Clint. A lot. This lead Randy’s PI to suspect Randy.

There were 10+ acquaintances/friends of Brian&Clint around the Saloona that night.

Yeah, you should skim the transcript at least! Much of it comes from a great investigator lady I forget the name of.

It’s a call to action - never before seen clips are up at their webpage - for everybody to analyze.

And there’s a Columbus (I think) live event in April.
Wow!! That is quite an eye-opening look into his life before he disappeared. I'll definitely listen. Thank you for the notes.
 
  • #194
Wow!! That is quite an eye-opening look into his life before he disappeared. I'll definitely listen. Thank you for the notes.
I know - I didn’t expect it either. That’s just the things that I was surprised by.

Also - Brian asked Alexis if she wanted to run away with him. She said no. I think that was in feb/march.
 
  • #195
Wow!! That is quite an eye-opening look into his life before he disappeared. I'll definitely listen. Thank you for the notes.
Its a good summary but one point missed is Kelly confirms that Brian had experimented with men before - one confirmed person and others rumored.
 
  • #196
Does anyone know more on the "manager" at the time who states he was a prior alcoholic and drug addict? (Initials FP). They are loosely connected to two other missing person cases that were around this time. It could be nothing or a coincidence but always wondered if something is there.
 
  • #197
This was just posted on True Crime Garages Facebook page
Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive: Post

The Captain and I have worked this case for years.
We know the noise. We know the recycled rumors. We know what a weak tip looks like.

Last night, we did not get one of those.
After our six-part deep dive on True Crime Garage, the inbox lit up. Most messages were what you would expect. One was not.
It was precise. Timeline references. Specific names. Details that align with information we deliberately held back.

The Captain and I were up all night cross-checking notes, revisiting archived material, and testing the tip against what we know and what has never been public.

When you have lived with a case this long, you can feel when something is hollow. This did not feel hollow.
For years, the disappearance of Brian Shaffer has generated thousands of tips. Most collapse under scrutiny.
This one has not.

We are verifying everything carefully and responsibly. There are pieces we cannot share yet, but understand this: we would not be losing sleep over it if it were just another message.
Something about this is different.
We will share more when we can.
-Kelly Bruce

#truecrime #Crime #Ohio #columbus #brianshaffer
 
  • #198
This was just posted on True Crime Garages Facebook page
Brian Shaffer Dead or Alive: Post

The Captain and I have worked this case for years.
We know the noise. We know the recycled rumors. We know what a weak tip looks like.

Last night, we did not get one of those.
After our six-part deep dive on True Crime Garage, the inbox lit up. Most messages were what you would expect. One was not.
It was precise. Timeline references. Specific names. Details that align with information we deliberately held back.

The Captain and I were up all night cross-checking notes, revisiting archived material, and testing the tip against what we know and what has never been public.

When you have lived with a case this long, you can feel when something is hollow. This did not feel hollow.
For years, the disappearance of Brian Shaffer has generated thousands of tips. Most collapse under scrutiny.
This one has not.

We are verifying everything carefully and responsibly. There are pieces we cannot share yet, but understand this: we would not be losing sleep over it if it were just another message.
Something about this is different.
We will share more when we can.
-Kelly Bruce

#truecrime #Crime #Ohio #columbus #brianshaffer
Who is ‘The Captain’? Is that a job title or just a moniker?
Hopefully this tip can be followed up by LE.
 
  • #199
Who is ‘The Captain’? Is that a job title or just a moniker?
Hopefully this tip can be followed up by LE.
He is the Podcaster.
 
  • #200
Has anyone else been following True Crime Garage on this case? It seems they are on to something. Hoping there is a break in this case!! I can't believe how long this has been being talked about on Websleuths.

eta: For some reason, the newer posts were not showing up for me, but I see them now, and that you guys are tracking the same info.
 

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