• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Eerie final moments of student who vanished after a night out with friends

Home> News> US News

Updated 17:32 1 Jun 2024 GMT+1Published 16:28 1 Jun 2024 GMT+1

Eerie final moments of student who vanished after a night out with friends

Authorities were left baffled after the student vanished without a trace over 18 years ago

Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper

The eerie case of a missing university student who vanished from an Ohio university has left police detectives baffled for years.

It's hard to imagine that someone could just vanish in modern society, however it's not a rare occurrence.

Around a 170,000 people go missing every year in the UK and although the vast majority of people are found, some individuals manage to simply vanishinto thin air, leaving behind a heartbreaking situation for friends and families.

Once unsolved case that has left investigators completely baffled is the story of Brian Shaffer, a university student who has been missing since in the early hours of 1 April 2006.

A second-year medical student at Ohio State University, 31 March began like any other day for Brian.

Advert

After completing his end-of-year exams, he decided to hit the town to celebrate with a friend - which is where he would inexplicably vanish. The pair were bar-hopping all night when Brian disappeared at 2am.

Brian was last seen on outside the Ugly Tuna Saloona bar in Columbus, Ohio chatting with two women before vanishing.

His roommate William 'Clint' Florence and his friend Meredith Reed had both attempted to call him, but later went home after they weren't able to get through.

It was the following Monday when Brian failed to catch his flight to Florida with his girlfriend Alexis Waggoner that he was officially reported as a missing person.

Brian Shaffer. (Facebook)
Brian Shaffer. (Facebook)

Advert

At the time, Brian was 27-years-old and had a promising medical career ahead of him. He was also set to propose to Alexis - a fellow medical student at the university - during their spring break trip to Florida.

In the days following, teams of upto 50 police officers would be out searching for him but to no avail.

CCTV footage from the night would later show him walking back into the bar before disappearing entirely. The only other exit from the bar was onto a construction site - leading investigators to believe he had purposely vanished via this exit.

Although Brian had excelled as a student, he had always told friends it was his dream to start a band. He was a keen guitar player who admired singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and had a tattoo of US rock band Pearl Jam's logo on his arm.

Brian's family had also been through tragedy earlier in the year when his mother died from bone cancer.

Brian's disappearance has left investigators baffled. (Facebook)
Brian's disappearance has left investigators baffled. (Facebook)

Advert

However, Brian's family rejected the idea that he would vanish by choice, with all evidence painting a picture of a man with plenty to look forward to in life.

In the year following his disappearance, Brian's mobile phone and bank cards remained unused - leading to his family to fear the worst.

Should Brian still be alive today, he would be 45-years-old. His only remaining family member is his younger brother who still holds hope that he will be found.

The case is still open, with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers issuing a $100,000 (£7,835) reward for anyone who could find him alive.

Featured Image Credit: Facebook

Topics: US News, True Crime

Brenna Cooper
Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper is a journalist at LADbible. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in History, followed by an NCTJ accredited masters in Journalism. She began her career as a freelance writer for Digital Spy, where she wrote about all things TV, film and showbiz. Her favourite topics to cover are music, travel and any bizarre pop culture.

X

@_brencoco

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Final texts between wife and kayaker who vanished to run off with mistress in Europe revealed
  • Eerie final moments of man ‘who never left bar on CCTV’ but is still missing today
  • Mother of children who vanished into wilderness speaks out after their father is killed and kids found
  • Full timeline of events as dad who vanished into wilderness with kids is killed by police

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • ABC7ABC7
    an hour ago

    Man regains sight after having his tooth implanted into his eye

    Brent Chapman said he was left in tears when he emerged from surgery and made eye contact for the first time in 20 years

    News
  • HandoutHandout
    an hour ago

    Brits imprisoned in Afghanistan are 'literally dying' says US woman who was jailed with them

    The Taliban imprisoned Peter and Barbie Reynolds in February after the pair were travelling in the Bamyan province

    News
  • DD News IndiaDD News India
    2 hours ago

    British sole survivor of Air India crash still hasn't returned home as families demand answers over victims' remains

    Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, previously said he has been plagued with survivors guilt since the tragedy took place three months ago

    News
  • Ben Montgomery/Stringer/Getty ImagesBen Montgomery/Stringer/Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Tommy Robinson claims 'millions' turned up to march but authorities say it was significantly less

    The prominent far-right activist described the event in London as 'the biggest protest in British history'

    News