71: MISSING: Brian Shaffer

On the morning of August 21, 1996, Trudy Appleby, an 11-year-old girl from Moline, Illinois, missed her scheduled 9:00 AM phone call with her best friend. Thirty minutes later, Trudy was seen getting into a car, believed to be a Chevy Celebrity, with a white man in his twenties. She was never seen again.  Trudy's father came home during his lunch break and made lunch for Trudy, assuming she was out playing with friends. But when he returned at the end of the workday, the lunch was still on the table, untouched—and Trudy was nowhere to be found. A massive investigation was launched, and persons of interest were eventually identified, however, Trudy has never been located. It’s been more than 28 years since Trudy vanished, and investigators are still searching for her... Trudy Appleby was last seen at around 9:30 AM on the morning of August 21, 1996, near her home located near 41st Street and 23rd Avenue in East Moline, Illinois. A witness reported seeing her getting into a gray or silver four-door Chevrolet Celebrity with a white man, now believed to be William “Ed” Smith.  At the time, Trudy was wearing a black one-piece swimsuit, spandex shorts, blue tennis shoes, socks, and a t-shirt. She was also carrying a beach towel. Law enforcement has named three persons of interest in the case: William “Ed” Smith, David Whipple, and Jamison “Jamie” Fisher. To date, no one has been charged in connection with Trudy’s disappearance. Police believe they are just missing a few key details to solve the case. Anyone with information about Trudy Appleby’s case is encouraged to contact the Moline Police Department at 309-534-2140 or Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities at 309-762-9500. There is currently a $10,000 reward for information. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. HungryRoot.com/Detective - Use code DETECTIVE and get 40% off!

On the evening of March 31, 2006, Brian Shaffer, a 27-year-old med student, went out with friends to celebrate the start of spring break. The night began with bar-hopping and ended at the Ugly Tuna Saloona, a popular spot in Columbus, Ohio. At 1:55 am, Brian was captured on surveillance footage outside the bar, chatting with two women. Moments later, he said goodbye and walked back toward the entrance, telling his friends he was going to speak with the band. He was never seen or heard from again. And despite all the investigative efforts, no trace of Brian has ever been found, leaving an entire community still wondering, what happened to Brian Shaffer? 27-year-old Brian Shaffer was last seen at around 2:00 am on April 1, 2006, at the Ugly Tuna Saloona in Columbus, Ohio. He was wearing jeans, a blue or green striped shirt, and tennis shoes. At the time of his disappearance, Brian, who is a white male, was 6'2" tall, weighed approximately 165 lbs., and had brown hair and hazel eyes. He has a distinctive Pearl Jam tattoo on his upper right arm and a small dot on the iris of his left eye. If you have any information about Brian’s disappearance, please contact the Columbus Police Department at 614-645-4545. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. ShopRemi.com/Detective - Use code DETECTIVE to save up to 50%! 2. Acorns.com/Detective - Start saving and investing with Acorns today!

For the final episode of Detective Perspective for 2024, we wanted to give everyone a few updates in two cases we covered this year: The case of Rachel Hansen, and the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari. At around 2:00 A.M. on June 4, 2022, a gunman entered Rachel Hansen’s apartment, located at 1900 South Coronado Road in Gilbert, Arizona, and shot her once while she was sleeping. Anyone with information in Rachel’s murder should leave an anonymous tip by calling Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. There is a $15,000 reward available. The last official sighting of Madalina Cojocari was on November 21, 2022, when she was seen getting off the school bus near her house, located at 18413 Victoria Bay Drive in Cornelius, North Carolina. Madalina is white, with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she weighed 90 pounds and stood at 4’10”. She was last seen wearing jeans, pink, purple and white Adidas shoes, and a white t-shirt and jacket. If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of Madalina Cojocari, please contact the Cornelius Police Department at (704) 892-7773. You can also contact your local FBI office or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray and Anna Luria SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. TryMiracle.com/Detective - Use code DETECTIVE for 3 FREE towels and to save over 40%! 2. HelloFresh.com/FreeDetective - Get 10 FREE meals!

On the morning of March 24, 1994, 26-year-old Matthew Flores, a former Army lieutenant and Gulf War veteran, parked his rented car outside his new workplace in Santa Clara, California. Moments later, he was shot execution-style as he leaned into the car to grab his jacket. The parking lot was full of employees starting their day, yet no one saw the shooter. Security footage revealed a dark Ford Explorer circling the lot suspiciously around the time Matt was killed, but unfortunately, his murder was not captured on camera. Despite a thorough investigation, no motive or suspects have ever been identified publicly. It’s been over 30 years since Matt was killed, and investigators are still searching for the killer... On the morning of March 24, 1994, Matt Flores was killed in the parking lot of Applied Materials in Santa Clara, California. He was shot in the head with a silver-jacketed hollow-point round. Surveillance footage captured a dark Ford Explorer circling the lot before and after the murder, but the vehicle was never identified. If you have any information in Matt’s case, please call Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP. There is a reward available. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray and Anna Luria SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. Lumen.me/Detective - Get 15% off your purchase! 2. Apostrophe.com/Detective - Get your first visit for only $5!

On the morning of February 26, 2024, Katie Proudfoot went to wake up her 15-year-old son, Sebastian Rogers, for school. But when she entered his room, his bed was empty. She searched the rest of the house for him, but he was nowhere to be found.  Katie called the police and a large-scale search began immediately. As hours turned into days, the search intensified, with hundreds of people combing the area near the family’s home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Despite their efforts, no trace of Sebastian has ever been found.  It’s been nine months since Sebastian vanished, and investigators are still searching for him… 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers was last seen on February 26, 2024, in the area of Stafford Court in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and black, square-framed glasses.  At the time of his disappearance, Sebastian, who is a white male, was 5'5" tall, 120 lbs., with sandy hair and brown eyes.  If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of Sebastian, please contact the Sumner County Sheriff's Office at (615) 451-3838, or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND. There is a reward available. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray and Anna Luria SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. FactorMeals.com/50Detective - Use code 50DETECTIVE for 50% off your first box and 20% off your next month! 2. TryMiracle.com/Detective - Use code DETECTIVE for 3 FREE towels and to save over 40%!

On the morning of August 2, 2008, 69-year-old William “Bill” Walker was at his workshop near Moses Lake, Washington, when an explosion suddenly went off, killing him instantly. Hours later, just after midnight on August 3, another blast ripped through the home of 53-year-old Javier Adame, just miles away, also killing him instantly. Investigators were stunned by the two deadly explosions happening so close in proximity and in time. As they pieced together the scenes, they realized both deaths were caused by carefully concealed pipe bombs, manufactured by the same person or people. Despite this connection, investigators could never find a link between the victims, or a clear reason why anyone would want them dead. It’s been over 16 years since Bill and Javier were murdered, and investigators are still searching for the person, or people, responsible… Between 9:00 and 10:00 am on August 2, 2008, Bill Walker was killed by a pipe bomb concealed inside a marine battery charger at his home on Fourth Street Northeast, about four miles east of Moses Lake, Washington.  Then, at around 12:30 am on August 3, Javier Adame was killed by a similar pipe bomb hidden inside a police scanner left outside his home on Stratford Road Northeast, just outside the Moses Lake city limits.  Investigators determined that the pipe bombs used to kill both men were manufactured by the same unknown individual or group. Anyone with information about the murders of Bill Walker and Javier Adame is urged to contact the Grant County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 754-2018. A reward is available for information leading to an arrest. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray and Anna Luria SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. ZocDoc.com/Detective - Download the ZocDoc app for FREE! 2. UncommonGoods.com/Detective - Get 15% off your next gift!

On the early morning of June 27, 1995, 27-year-old Jodi Huisentruit, a news anchor in Mason City, Iowa, overslept and rushed out the door to head to work. But she never made it in. Concerned coworkers called the police, who found Jodi’s red Mazda Miata in her apartment’s parking lot. Evidence at the scene suggested a struggle, leading police to believe Jodi had been abducted as she tried to get into her car. In the days that followed, search teams scoured Mason City and beyond, but no trace of Jodi was ever found. It’s been more than 29 years since Jodi disappeared, and investigators are still searching for answers… Jodi Huisentruit was last heard from in the early hours of June 27, 1995. At around 4:00 am, her producer called to wake her up after she had overslept, and Jodi said she would be on her way to the station. However, she never arrived.  By 7:15 am, police had been called to her apartment complex at 550 N Kentucky Avenue in Mason City, where they found signs of a struggle near her red Mazda Miata. Her belongings were scattered in the parking lot, but Jodi was nowhere to be found. When police canvassed the area, they learned that a white van, possibly a mid-1980s Ford Econoline, was seen in the parking lot at around 4:30 am. It has never been located.  Jodi is a white woman with brown eyes, standing at approximately 5'3". At the time of her disappearance, she weighed between 110 and 120 pounds and had blonde hair. Anyone with information on Jodi’s case can reach out to the Mason City Police Department at (641) 421-3636. Information can also be provided to the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations at (515) 725-6010. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray and Anna Luria SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. TryMiracle.com/Detective - Use code DETECTIVE for 3 FREE towels and to save over 40%! 2. HelloFresh.com/FreeDetective - Get 10 FREE meals!

On the afternoon of October 28, 2008, 36-year-old Corrie Anderson, a beloved mother of three, left her job at a Jamestown, New York, library and visited her fiancé at a nearby car dealership. She told him she planned to head home before picking up her son from school later that day. But Corrie never arrived, and her family quickly grew concerned. When they went to check on her, Corrie’s house was empty. Inside, they found fresh groceries and one of her shoes on the stairs, but both Corrie—and her van—were missing. Two days later, her van was found abandoned in a field near a wooded area close to her home. Despite extensive searches, Corrie was never found, leaving her family without answers. It’s been just over 16 years since Corrie disappeared, and investigators are still searching for her… Corrie Lynn Anderson was last seen at 1:15 p.m. on October 28, 2008, as she left the Lake County Dodge dealership in Jamestown, New York. She was supposed to go to her son’s school by 3:15 p.m., but she never arrived. When her family checked her home on Wellman Road, they found signs she had briefly returned after visiting the dealership, but Corrie was gone. Two days later, on October 30, her Dodge Caravan was discovered abandoned in a field near Wellman State Forest, about a half-mile walk through the woods from her home. Years later, her car keys and missing shoe were found in the same field. However, Corrie herself is still missing.  When Corrie went missing, she was 36 years old. She stood 5’11”, weighed around 170 pounds, and had chin-length blonde hair. She has green eyes and the last time she was seen, she was wearing black corduroy pants, a black leather jacket, and small, wire-rimmed glasses. Anyone with information regarding Corrie’s case is asked to call the New York State Police at 716-665-3113. If you would like to support the search for Corrie, you can join the Facebook group, “Help Find Corrie Anderson”. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray and Anna Luria SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. Lumen.me/Detective - Get 15% off your purchase! 2. ScaredAllTheTimePodcast.com -  Love your horror paired with comedy? Check out Scared All The Time wherever you listen to podcasts!

On April 10, 1997, 50-year-old Judy Smith, a beloved nurse and mother, set off on her first trip to Philadelphia, planning to explore historic sites while her husband attended a conference. But when Judy didn’t return to their hotel that evening, her husband grew worried and reported her missing. Months passed without a word from Judy. Then, in September, hunters stumbled upon her remains over 600 miles away in a remote part of North Carolina. Judy had been murdered, her body wrapped in a blanket and left in a shallow grave.  It’s been over 27 years since Judy was murdered, and investigators are still searching for the person responsible... Judy Smith left her Philadelphia hotel on April 10, 1997 and never returned. Months later, on September 7, hunters in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville, North Carolina, discovered Judy’s remains partially buried in a shallow grave. Her body was over 600 miles from where she was last seen, dressed in clothing her family did not recognize.  If you have any information about the murder of Judy, please contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department at 828-250-6670. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray and Anna Luria SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. FactorMeals.com/Detective50 - Use code DETECTIVE50 for 50% off! 2. TryMiracle.com/Detective - Use code DETECTIVE for 3 FREE towels and to save over 40%!

On the evening of May 17th, 2024, 39-year-old Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain, a beloved mother, daughter and sister, texted her sister saying she was visiting her brother-in-law in a Redding, California, hospital. Just after midnight, she mentioned returning her mother-in-law's car to her house on the Redding Rancheria Reservation. That was the last time anyone heard from her. A week later, Nikki's truck was found abandoned in a remote area 40 minutes from her home. Despite extensive searches, Nikki remains missing. It's been more than five months since she disappeared, and investigators are still working to piece together what happened that night. Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain was last heard from after midnight on May 18th, 2024. She texted her sister Chloe that she was returning her mother-in-law Jeanette's car to Jeanette's house on the Redding Rancheria. That was the last time anyone had contact with Nikki according to Nikki's family. A week later, on May 25th, her 2002 Chevy Avalanche was found abandoned in a remote area of Tehama County, about 40 minutes from her home. Nikki is Asian with brownish red hair and brown eyes. She has a forearm tattoo with flowers. Anyone with information about Nikki's case is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit at (530) 245-6135. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray and Anna Luria SUBMIT A CASE HERE: [email protected] SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly:  https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. HelloFresh.com/DetectiveFree - Get 10 FREE meals! 2. ZocDoc.com/Detective - Download the ZocDoc app for FREE!