Psychic Seek Whereabouts of Missing Ohio Med Student

I was sitting at a missing person's conference this spring when I got an e-mail from a TV producer with Psychic Kids. He was looking for the family of a missing person in Ohio -- and starting to get a bit discouraged. The thing was, he was working on a segment for a paranormal show. It's easy to refer someone to any exposure possible...but this time it was a psychic event -- and I wanted to take care of who I referred.

My answer smiled at me from across the table at the conference. Debra Culberson, an Ohio resident and mother of Carrie Culberson who vanished in August of 1996. I knew Debra to be an incredibly strong person and victim's advocate. I knew she would be able to handle this request.

Passing Debra the contact info...at the very least I knew it was exposure. It sounded very tasteful in approach and I didn't have to worry about Debra...she's tougher than nails.

Debra later spoke to producer and though they did not use Carrie's case, she did point them to a mutual friend. I smiled when she told me that she had sent them to Randy Shaffer, father of missing Brian Shaffer. I myself had interviewed Randy for an episode of my online radio show -- Missing Pieces.

Like me, he also works a "day job" outside the realm of the missing. But the rest of his time is spent in relentless search for his 27 year old son - last seen at the Ugly Tuna Saloona in Columbus, Ohio on the night of Friday, March 31st 2006.

Brian Shaffer, a 2nd year medical student at Ohio State University went out to have a few drinks with friends. The last time Brian is seen was captured on surveillance cameras. He was outside the Ugly Tuna with two ladies near the escalator. He bid them goodbye and appears to return to the bar. He walks off camera and seems to have completely vanished - and was not seen ever leaving the bar.

As a parent Randy is on his own in the search for Brian as his wife, Renee, passed away just 25 days prior to the disappearance of their son. Incredibly, he seems to manage it all so well. I have to wonder if the strength comes from not only the parental need to find his son, but also the need to escape all of the pain piled on him at once.

Randy told me that he had previously worked with psychics in an attempt to find some direction to turn. Some of psychics said that his son Brian is alive, others say he isn't alive. It doesn't take a psychic to know it is one way or the other.

It can be tough consulting with psychics. I truly believe that some people do indeed have a gift, but I also know that there are those that are frauds set to take advantage of the desperate. Nothing told me this show was the latter, and Randy was willing to give it a try.

I already knew of the shows host, Chip Coffey, through a mutual friend, Patti Starr. Patti is a Kentucky based Paranormal Researcher. That connection gave me quite a bit of comfort.

I did get to see the program featuring Brian's case this week and was pleased to see the exposure. I could also see that it was difficult for Randy and he was emotional at times. The psychics did their best to unravel the mystery of Brian Shaffer's disappearance, but at the end of the program - the case remains unsolved.

I hope that maybe they can try again one day.

Brian Shaffer's Vitals:

• DOB: 02-11-1979 (27 y/o at time of disappearance)
  

• Height: 6'2"
  

• Weight: 160 - 170
  

• Eyes: Hazel
  

• Hair: Brown
  

• Body Art: Pearl Jam Symbol Tattooed on upper right arm
  

Someone somewhere knows more about what happened to Brian. A reward of up to $25,000 is currently being offered for information leading to the whereabouts of Brian R. Shaffer.

If you, or someone you know, have any information that could be helpful in our search for Brian, please call toll free at 1-877-645-TIPS (8477)