Brian Shaffer ////// 925

True Crime Garage returns to the high-profile case of Brian Schaefer, a 27-year-old Ohio State medical student who vanished on April 1, 2006, from the campus area of Columbus, Ohio. Host Nick and guest Kelly, co-founder of the 'Brian Schaefer Dead or Alive' Facebook page, reflect on the aftermath of their six-part series released in February 2026, which reignited public and media interest in the case. The episode details a new tip that led Columbus Police Department to dig up a basement in 2020 at a property linked to a man who had raised suspicion in 2006 after making a disturbing comment at a party about Schaefer’s disappearance. Though the dig uncovered only an old fuel oil tank, the fact that law enforcement pursued the lead—after receiving information from multiple sources—suggests the tip held weight. The hosts explore the possibility that Schaefer may have left voluntarily, possibly due to personal struggles including sexuality, identity, or trauma, and discuss the lack of surveillance footage showing him exiting the Ugly Tuna Saloon, despite police assertions he made it out. They also highlight the emotional toll on family and friends, the importance of preserving accurate records, and the potential of a documentary to bring new attention and clarity to unsolved cases. The episode concludes with a powerful live event in Canal Winchester, Ohio, where the podcast raised $20,000 for the Porchlight Project to support Ohio missing persons cases, with the first case to be prioritized in Schaefer’s honor.