Shaffer was last seen at the Ugly Tuna Saloona, a bar near the Ohio State University (OSU) campus, between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m. on April 1, 2006. He had gone there to celebrate the beginning of spring break with several male friends, and drank several shots of hard liquour. He was last seen speaking to two college-age women inside the bar. He has never been heard from again. Security cameras at the bar show him entering the establishment, but not leaving it. Shaffer's car was found parked at his apartment, which is near the Ugly Tuna Saloona, after his disappearance. None of his personal belongings disappeared with him, and his cellular phone, credit cards and bank accounts have not been used since he went missing.

Shaffer's loved ones describe his disappearance as highly unusual. He was a second-year medical student at OSU at the time of his disappearance, and made excellent grades. He and his girlfriend, also a medical student, were planning to vacation in Miami, Florida for spring break and were scheduled to fly there on April 3, two days after his disappearance. His family reported him missing after he missed the flight. Shaffer was in love with his girlfriend and reportedly planned to marry her. His mother died of cancer three weeks before his disappearance. He'd been close to her and he was grieving her passing, but his family and friends stated he was not inordinately depressed or suicidal.

In May 2006, someone broke into Shaffer's apartment. The burglary turned out to be unrelated to his disappearance. Shaffer's father looked in the Olentangy River for his son's remains after his disappearance, but turned up no evidence. His father was killed in a freak accident in September 2008. Shaffer's only surviving relative is his younger brother.

Authorities do not believe Shaffer left of his own accord, but it is unclear what caused his disappearance. He graduated Pickerington High School in 1997 and got a bachelor's degree in microbiology from OSU in 2003. Shaffer's case remains unsolved.

Left: Pearl Jam symbol tattooed on Shaffer's arm;
Right: Shaffer's tattoo