One of the most perplexing missing persons cases in the Columbus Police department entered its 10th year Friday.
What happened to 27-year-old OSU med student Brian Shaffer? We spoke with the detective who's been working this case from day one.
Shaffer represents the largest case file in the Columbus police detective bureau.
The only piece of video of Shaffer the night he disappeared 10 years ago: On an escalator at the Gateway theater complex off campus on his way to a bar.
“We interviewed 100's of people, thousands of hours of video,” Police Sgt. John Hurst said.
Sgt. Hurst said since Shaffer’s disappearance, just about every conceivable search has been made for him: on water ways, in wooded areas, bike paths along the Olentangy River; any type of tip or lead that came in got followed up on.
“We got a lot of answers and were able to rule out several things, but it still didn't help us solve the case,” he said.
SLIDESHOW: Search For Brian Shaffer | More Information: Find Brian Shaffer
Volunteer search operations from other states got involved. In the summer of 2007, Equusearch from Texas - added mounted patrols and sophisticated sonar equipment to the central Ohio effort.
Theories abound about Shaffer's disappearance: maybe he committed suicide, maybe he just walked away or maybe he was the victim of foul play.
“We have no information there was foul play but haven't been able to run out foul play,” Sgt. Hurst said.
Even tips about sightings of Shaffer in Colorado, Michigan, and the Virgin Islands turned out to be false.
“We've done everything we can with the information we've received,” Sgt. Hurst said.
But the officer says that does nothing to ease the gnawing feeling that never leaves over the answer cannot find.
“Unfortunately officers throughout their career get a case that sometimes feels like it is never going to end and I hope that someday we do have the answers that everybody's looking for,” he said.
Hurst says ever so often, a tip still comes in. Even though none have panned out so far, he follows up on all of them.
If you have a tip on the disappearance of Brian Shaffer, the officer wants you to call Crimestoppers at (614) 461-8477.
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September 15, 2008: Father Of Missing Ohio State Student Killed In Storm
October 2, 2008: Missing OSU Student Investigation Moves To Virgin Islands
October 8, 2008: Police Downplay Connection Between Missing OSU Student, Web Message
April 1, 2010: Brian Shaffer Case Enters Year No. 4
April 3, 2011: Blood Drive Held To Honor Missing Ohio State Med Student