OH OH - Brian Shaffer, 27, Columbus, 1 April 2006 - #4

[ShamelessObserver]

with as grainy as the surveillance video is I don’t trust that anyone could definitively say a person in the video is or isn’t Shaffer. Unless he had some unusual gait that none of have heard of before.

I think it would be very interesting if LE released the CCTV of people leaving the bar that night. I was scrolling through this forum yesterday and went back to the archives from 2006 when this happened. LE believed that they had found a breakthrough in the case fairly quickly. They found CCTV of 3 people leaving UT that morning, one in a black shirt that they thought was Brian. They showed it to his family but they felt like it wasn't him. He left with two other people but his face was obscured, it would be very interesting if this footage was released. You never know, if it was him, if he was really drunk then perhaps he was walking differently in the footage which is why his family said no.

 

[Ozoner]

I think it would be very interesting if LE released the CCTV of people leaving the bar that night. I was scrolling through this forum yesterday and went back to the archives from 2006 when this happened. LE believed that they had found a breakthrough in the case fairly quickly. They found CCTV of 3 people leaving UT that morning, one in a black shirt that they thought was Brian. They showed it to his family but they felt like it wasn't him. He left with two other people but his face was obscured, it would be very interesting if this footage was released. You never know, if it was him, if he was really drunk then perhaps he was walking differently in the footage which is why his family said no.

I don't believe you're staying the case accurately.
For one thing, they didn't say that the people were leaving the Ugly Tuna Saloona.
For another thing, they didn't say that they thought the man was Brian.
If you disagree, feel free to provide a link to a mainstream media source and prove me wrong.
I see that you're a new member, so you may not know the terms of service. You are required to provide a link for any information not already established as fact.

 

[dotr]

I think it would be very interesting if LE released the CCTV of people leaving the bar that night. I was scrolling through this forum yesterday and went back to the archives from 2006 when this happened. LE believed that they had found a breakthrough in the case fairly quickly. They found CCTV of 3 people leaving UT that morning, one in a black shirt that they thought was Brian. They showed it to his family but they felt like it wasn't him. He left with two other people but his face was obscured, it would be very interesting if this footage was released. You never know, if it was him, if he was really drunk then perhaps he was walking differently in the footage which is why his family said no.

Link included in this post from an earlier thread.
RL="OH - OH - Brian Shaffer, 27, Columbus, 1 April 2006 - #3"]OH - Brian Shaffer, 27, Columbus, 1 April 2006 - #3[/URL]

nbc4i.com - Local News - Psychics Search Apartment Of Missing OSU Student
April 5, 2006 rbbm.
''COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The family of a missing Ohio State University medical student called in psychics to search his apartment.Randy Shaffer, the father of missing OSU student Brian Shaffer, 27, said he would do anything to find his son. SLIDESHOW: Images Of Brian Shaffer/Case "I want to do whatever I can to find him. I'm far from being done. I want to find my son and I want to find him now," Shaffer said.


Psychics searched Brian Shaffer's apartment on Tuesday evening."When I saw his picture (Monday) night, I immediately tuned into him and felt that he'd been drinking too much over the weekend. He's gone through a recent tragedy. His mother's passed away. I think he was just a little too drunk to really make it home safely," psychic Bill Mitchell said.Psychics said they had visions inside the apartment."I feel positive that he's alive, but I feel there has been injury. I keep feeling impact in my abdomen," psychic Marc Moody said.Columbus police thought they might have had a break in the case with a surveillance video taken early Saturday morning outside of the Ugly Tuna Saloona, where Brian Shaffer was last seen. They thought a man seen on the video getting onto an escalator outside of the bar, followed by two men in black shirts, was Brian Shaffer.Late Tuesday, however, police determined that the man was not Brian Shaffer after blowing up the video and showing it to family and friends.Meredith Reed, a friend who was with him that night in the bar, was one of the last friends to talk to Brian Shaffer."Clint and Brian were talking about something, and Brian mentioned he was going to go up, like toward the stage area," Reed said.After that, he apparently left, and has not been seen since.''

 

[Ozoner]

Link included in this post from an earlier thread.
RL="OH - OH - Brian Shaffer, 27, Columbus, 1 April 2006 - #3"]OH - Brian Shaffer, 27, Columbus, 1 April 2006 - #3[/URL]

nbc4i.com - Local News - Psychics Search Apartment Of Missing OSU Student
April 5, 2006 rbbm.
''COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The family of a missing Ohio State University medical student called in psychics to search his apartment.Randy Shaffer, the father of missing OSU student Brian Shaffer, 27, said he would do anything to find his son. SLIDESHOW: Images Of Brian Shaffer/Case "I want to do whatever I can to find him. I'm far from being done. I want to find my son and I want to find him now," Shaffer said.


Psychics searched Brian Shaffer's apartment on Tuesday evening."When I saw his picture (Monday) night, I immediately tuned into him and felt that he'd been drinking too much over the weekend. He's gone through a recent tragedy. His mother's passed away. I think he was just a little too drunk to really make it home safely," psychic Bill Mitchell said.Psychics said they had visions inside the apartment."I feel positive that he's alive, but I feel there has been injury. I keep feeling impact in my abdomen," psychic Marc Moody said.Columbus police thought they might have had a break in the case with a surveillance video taken early Saturday morning outside of the Ugly Tuna Saloona, where Brian Shaffer was last seen. They thought a man seen on the video getting onto an escalator outside of the bar, followed by two men in black shirts, was Brian Shaffer.Late Tuesday, however, police determined that the man was not Brian Shaffer after blowing up the video and showing it to family and friends.Meredith Reed, a friend who was with him that night in the bar, was one of the last friends to talk to Brian Shaffer."Clint and Brian were talking about something, and Brian mentioned he was going to go up, like toward the stage area," Reed said.After that, he apparently left, and has not been seen since.''

OK, so the people were seen outside the UTS; they may have been leaving or may have just been walking by/loitering. At any rate, I'm willing to trust the family's word that it wasn't him.

 

[dotr]

OK, so the people were seen outside the UTS; they may have been leaving or may have just been walking by/loitering. At any rate, I'm willing to trust the family's word that it wasn't him.

Should have added that link in reply (and to be helpful?) to the poster, ShamelessObserver, who mentioned this.

 

[neesaki]

From what I’ve heard about Brian’s personality, it sounds like he was a bit like Christopher McCandless who went into the wild. Free spirited, a little against the grain and somewhat rebellious. Just a thought.

 

[Ozoner]

Should have added that link in reply (and to be helpful?) to the poster, ShamelessObserver, who mentioned this.

I'm not sure what you mean. My comment was based on the material quoted by ShamelessObserver.

 

[dotr]

I'm not sure what you mean. My comment was based on the material quoted by ShamelessObserver.

Had inadvertently quoted (replied to) your post instead of SO's post.

 

[doctorsleuthy]

Hello everyone, new to this site but wanted to say I really have been fascinated by everyone here and how much you all have contributed over all these years. Its no doubt helped me and Im sure people like me to get up to date on this case, great work by all.

I have no idea how I ended up finding this case, but it reeled me in, and its is a tough one which I spent the last few days pouring over, every thread actually, even the podcasts that were done and Youtube videos. Ive gone back and forth so many times but believe I have a good grip on the details and most of everything you all have discussed for so long.

I will say also that I am current LE in a big city and hopefully I can help contribute as much as possible with thoughts and ideas to help with this case and maybe others. Im sure as someone new, there may be a time I repeat a question or a thought someone else posted at a time, so I apologize in advance.

I do, as most here, have feelings on so many of details in this case, but my mind is not made up yet.

Does anyone here still communicate with Det. Hurst? Id love to ask him some questions ...one LE to another! Lol

 

[Ozoner]

Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller told ABC13 the search and rescue non-profit has stopped its search until an autopsy is performed.

Miller said the remains were found in a shallow grave three feet from where the group found evidence last time.

The founder said the Army CID cadaver dogs missed the remains the first time they searched
the area.

Human remains found in search for missing Fort Hood soldier

Here is a recent example where cadaver dogs walked right over a burial site but missed the remains, which had been there for two months. They were found a couple of days later by repairmen working on a fence; the men could smell human decomposition and investigated. I think LE is putting too much faith in the searches that they did with dogs. Someone needs to explain to Detective Hurst that cadaver dogs are not reliable.

 

[itsrak]

Here is a recent example where cadaver dogs walked right over a burial site but missed the remains, which had been there for two months. They were found a couple of days later by repairmen working on a fence; the men could smell human decomposition and investigated. I think LE is putting too much faith in the searches that they did with dogs. Someone needs to explain to Detective Hurst that cadaver dogs are not reliable.

Here is a recent example where cadaver dogs walked right over a burial site but missed the remains, which had been there for two months. They were found a couple of days later by repairmen working on a fence; the men could smell human decomposition and investigated. I think LE is putting too much faith in the searches that they did with dogs. Someone needs to explain to Detective Hurst that cadaver dogs are not reliable.

That they elected not to move even so much as one shovelful of dirt in 2006 was a travesty. That they won't do it today is shameful.

 

[itsrak]

I just took another listen to the podcast. At 18min in, Hurst states that there's no way Brian died in the construction area, because someone would've noted an odor and 'we (CPD) would've been alerted'. Thus, Hurst implies that no one contacted CPD to report an odor in the building. But we know that, per previously discussed Yelp comment from around 2007, SOMEONE DID NOTE AN ODOR. Just how many people observed an odor? We don't know. But apparently no one who noted an odor contacted CPD. Unfortunate. Would have been good to have had that report of an odor investigated. Could potentially have resulted in the case being solved...

Also, in the Tiffany Renee video linked above, at 18:40 in she notes that cadaver dogs 'did hit in a couple places' in the construction area, but nothing came of it. Not sure why nothing came of it, she doesn't say. And she's very loose with facts, for example she states that concrete/floors were already in place in the construction area when we know Hurst stated that floors were not in place and there were uneven/unlevel dirt surfaces in the construction area at the time of Brian's disappearance and when cadaver dogs were run through. Far as I know, not so much as a single shovel full of dirt was ever turned by CPD in its investigation of the construction area.

Me, I still think most likely outcome is Brian died in an accident in the construction area, CPD failed to find his body, CPD did not subsequently investigate reported odor, and Brian's remains are still there.

We know from lead detective Hurst's podcast comments in the past few years that at the time Brian disappeared - not seeming to have exited the premises and never again seen outside the complex - the construction area just feet from where he was last seen (and which Hurst surmised Brian may well have entered) was 'completely dug up' and comprised of uneven/unlevel dirt surfaces. Quite strangely, no dirt was apparently moved in the search for Brian Shaffer.

 

[neesaki]

Hello everyone, new to this site but wanted to say I really have been fascinated by everyone here and how much you all have contributed over all these years. Its no doubt helped me and Im sure people like me to get up to date on this case, great work by all.

I have no idea how I ended up finding this case, but it reeled me in, and its is a tough one which I spent the last few days pouring over, every thread actually, even the podcasts that were done and Youtube videos. Ive gone back and forth so many times but believe I have a good grip on the details and most of everything you all have discussed for so long.

I will say also that I am current LE in a big city and hopefully I can help contribute as much as possible with thoughts and ideas to help with this case and maybe others. Im sure as someone new, there may be a time I repeat a question or a thought someone else posted at a time, so I apologize in advance.

I do, as most here, have feelings on so many of details in this case, but my mind is not made up yet.

Does anyone here still communicate with Det. Hurst? Id love to ask him some questions ...one LE to another! Lol

Welcome to Websleuths and to Brian’s thread, doctorsleuthy! Very glad you joined in, any insight you have will be appreciated here.

 

[doctorsleuthy]

Some questions I would have for hurst would be are there pictures anywhere of the construction site before or after the disappearance? Also, when he says “dug up floor”, what does he mean? Are we talking about giant holes? Shallow holes. A pile of dirt could be knee high, not necessarily a 7 or 8ft pile. Are there details about how big and what the site looked like? I cant imagine a department in a high profile case not taking photos, even in 2006, but every dept is different.


I also have to say Police are fallible. We are human too. We make mistakes, and being in LE myself, much of the work relies on others as well. I am trusting you to search this area and do your job, and you are trusting me to search another area and do mine. Can areas be missed? Absolutely! It happens. Most departments have only a number of detectives working a case. I have no idea how many were working this case, but if I had to guess, maybe 3? I could be totally wrong though. I work in a big city department and there is no way we could spare more than 4, plus a sgt on such a case. Id be interested to see how many.


Dogs were brought in and Id love to know how many total by police, and how many by Randy. How big is that area? Ive searched buildings before such as schools, it can take hours upon hours. Did they just walk through, look around and say hes not here? Id like to believe they spent a ton of man hiurs in that building searching.


Id like to know how many times the building was searched as well? This seemed liked a very high profile case when it happened so I am assuming not only the police were searching but many entities were searching even when police were not there. Hurst does say that police “canvassed” the construction area. A canvass could mean many things. Does that mean with a fine tooth comb, like they searched the professors house according to the PI? Thats how he described it. Hurst does not say the building was gone over with a fine tooth comb, he said canvassed.

 

[doctorsleuthy]

Just to let you all know who follow here how I am proceeding, I am just trying to clear the building before I move on to anything else, although I have opinions, I need to start at the beginning. The last place Brian was scene was in that building. I still have questions as to whether he ever made it out.

I have to believe officers and family who viewed the footage that Brian did not exit via the escalator. So for me, thats off the table. I am satisfied with that fact. I dont think Ive read many theories say anything to the contrary.

That leaves the door under the camera where Brian was last seen which leads towards construction area and trash facilities, and the door inside the UTS.

So am I correct that the door inside the UTS is the door that had an alarm but the alarm was disabled along with the auto focus feature being on manual control? Or is that a different door Im thinking of?

 

[itsrak]

Some questions I would have for hurst would be are there pictures anywhere of the construction site before or after the disappearance? Also, when he says “dug up floor”, what does he mean? Are we talking about giant holes? Shallow holes. A pile of dirt could be knee high, not necessarily a 7 or 8ft pile. Are there details about how big and what the site looked like? I cant imagine a department in a high profile case not taking photos, even in 2006, but every dept is different.


I also have to say Police are fallible. We are human too. We make mistakes, and being in LE myself, much of the work relies on others as well. I am trusting you to search this area and do your job, and you are trusting me to search another area and do mine. Can areas be missed? Absolutely! It happens. Most departments have only a number of detectives working a case. I have no idea how many were working this case, but if I had to guess, maybe 3? I could be totally wrong though. I work in a big city department and there is no way we could spare more than 4, plus a sgt on such a case. Id be interested to see how many.


Dogs were brought in and Id love to know how many total by police, and how many by Randy. How big is that area? Ive searched buildings before such as schools, it can take hours upon hours. Did they just walk through, look around and say hes not here? Id like to believe they spent a ton of man hiurs in that building searching.


Id like to know how many times the building was searched as well? This seemed liked a very high profile case when it happened so I am assuming not only the police were searching but many entities were searching even when police were not there. Hurst does say that police “canvassed” the construction area. A canvass could mean many things. Does that mean with a fine tooth comb, like they searched the professors house according to the PI? Thats how he described it. Hurst does not say the building was gone over with a fine tooth comb, he said canvassed.

The construction space as of 4/1/06 was in the process of being prepped for tenancy by a specialty grocery store known as Sunflower Market, which opened for business just over 5 months later on 9/7/06 (and only lasted a few years). I'd guess that it was around the size of, say, a smaller ALDI store, around 15,000 square feet. Hurst described it as being in a 'completely dug up' state with uneven/unlevel dirt surfaces. Concrete floors had not been poured. The only 'hole' he specifically mentioned as far as I know was one at the base of what became an elevator shaft that was then under construction. Whether there were other holes or trenches, such as for utility lines/plumbing, I do not know. But we all know that in latest podcast, Hurst made a point of stating his belief that Brian did 'absolutely not' die in the construction area. How he could be absolutely certain of this, he has never said. Needless to say, there is in reality no way he could be certain.

 

[doctorsleuthy]

@itsrak Im glad you responded. Thanks for the information.

There is nothing that we the public know of that says Brian made it out, nothing. That is not to say CPD doesnt have info though. Brians phone pinging is great info from the podcast, but it still could mean that it was pinging in the area, meaning he is still in that area and never left, which I tend to believe as of now.

Sadly, I believe regardless that Brian is deceased, and died that early morning.

The fact Brian was not seen on any camera leaving, and every single person who was in that building was seen and accounted for except for him, is very compelling information to me. Does that seal the deal? No. But now we have to believe that a very many great coincidences took place after he was last seen on camera...that he took a path that no one else took, that he evaded cameras not only in the building itself, but outside the building as well, which has been stated there were over 100 cameras in the area at that time, that Brian also knew which cameras in the area would not be working such as the Wendys camera, which has been discussed, as to conceal his escape, and not only that, was not physically seen by anyone else who was outside the building at the time. In my opinion there is no way whatsoever that Brian could have known that the Wendys camera or any other camera in the area didnt work, or deliberately walked in a way that he wasnt picked up on someone’s business camera. He just couldnt have known that info no matter how smart he was. The planning this would take would be astronomical, for him, or someone killing him if that is anyones belief, and its beyond calculated, and I just dont buy that he knew how to evade everything and everyone to vanish forever.

Is it possible there is a piece of this puzzle we are not being told by CPD? Absolutely!

 

[bbsus]

The fact Brian was not seen on any camera leaving, and every single person who was in that building was seen and accounted for except for him, is very compelling information to me. Does that seal the deal? No. But now we have to believe that a very many great coincidences took place after he was last seen on camera...that he took a path that no one else took, that he evaded cameras not only in the building itself, but outside the building as well, which has been stated there were over 100 cameras in the area at that time, that Brian also knew which cameras in the area would not be working such as the Wendys camera, which has been discussed, as to conceal his escape, and not only that, was not physically seen by anyone else who was outside the building at the time. In my opinion there is no way whatsoever that Brian could have known that the Wendys camera or any other camera in the area didnt work, or deliberately walked in a way that he wasnt picked up on someone’s business camera. He just couldnt have known that info no matter how smart he was. The planning this would take would be astronomical, for him, or someone killing him if that is anyones belief, and its beyond calculated, and I just dont buy that he knew how to evade everything and everyone to vanish forever.

Is it possible there is a piece of this puzzle we are not being told by CPD? Absolutely!

I believe I heard on a podcast (True Crime Garage) that there is a back entrance that was used for example by bands performing and there was one that night. He also I believe went and spoke to the band? I don't recall the band using the main entrance either so is it not possible they both used that secondary entrance? I think it was also mentioned that oddly there aren't any cameras by that entrance/exit and/or it was never released.

 

[doctorsleuthy]

I believe I heard on a podcast (True Crime Garage) that there is a back entrance that was used for example by bands performing and there was one that night. He also I believe went and spoke to the band? I don't recall the band using the main entrance either so is it not possible they both used that secondary entrance? I think it was also mentioned that oddly there aren't any cameras by that entrance/exit and/or it was never released.

I believe it was on the True Crime podcast with Det Hurst he stated the band exiting the building was all on camera and Brian did not leave with them, but somewhere down in that area near the exit to the construction site was not on camera.

 

[itsrak]

I believe I heard on a podcast (True Crime Garage) that there is a back entrance that was used for example by bands performing and there was one that night. He also I believe went and spoke to the band? I don't recall the band using the main entrance either so is it not possible they both used that secondary entrance? I think it was also mentioned that oddly there aren't any cameras by that entrance/exit and/or it was never released.

The band members were interviewed back when - the conclusion being that Brian apparently did not speak with them that night.