Brian Shaffer Update: Authorities Hope Age Progression Photo Helps Student Disappearance Case

It has been nearly 15 years since the disappearance of Ohio State University medical student Brian Shaffer. However, authorities are hoping the release of a new age-progression photo will help lead to some answers in the missing person case.

On Monday, it was announced that the Ohio Attorney General’s Office worked with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) to create the age-progressed photo of Shaffer, who would now be 42, NBC 4 reports.

Investigators believe the updated photo could spark some new leads in the 2006 cold case.

“Take a close look at this image: a single tip can reignite a cold case and bring a family closer to reunification with a loved one,” Attorney General Dave Yost said. “Hope doesn’t have an expiration date – every missing person counts.”

Shaffer was last seen on April 1, 2006, at the now-closed bar Ugly Tuna Saloona near the Ohio State University campus, The Columbus Dispatch reports. Cameras captured the med student at the bar at around 2 a.m. speaking to two women before walking away.

At the time of his disappearance, Shaffer, a white male, was 27 years old, weighed 170 pounds, and was 6 feet, 2 inches tall. Shaffer has hazel eyes, brown hair, and was last seen wearing a blue or green striped shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes.

Speaking about the new age-progression photo, Michael Woods, the interim Columbus police chief, said, “We would like to thank BCI and their forensic artists who worked tirelessly on the age-progression image of Brian Shaffer.”

He added, “We would like to find every person from our missing persons cases and believe this is another step in hopes that we can find Mr. Shaffer.”

Authorities are asking anyone with information about Shaffer’s disappearance to contact investigators at the Columbus Division of Police at 614-645-2358.