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Last night we did a segment on missing Brian Shaffer. Brian is a medical student in Ohio who was last known seen about 1:50 a.m. on April 1. Both his medical school girlfriend and father were on last night. His father was also on our show the night before.
In talking to Brian's father yesterday, we promised to mention the fact that Brian has a tattoo. We wanted to help the family get this information out since it might help bring Brian home if anyone has seen a young man matching his description with this tattoo.
Well, I forgot to ask his father about the tattoo last night. I remembered it after I said goodnight to his father. I felt like I had been hit with a bolt of lightning. Yes, I felt bad for dropping the ball. How could I forget that when that was the main purpose his father had for coming back?
In the break after I said goodnight to him and before he left the studio in Ohio, I told my producers to tell his father we would mention it here in the blog today and post a picture. (We will also continue to follow this story.)
So, please check out the picture that I have posted today of the tattoo. Maybe we will get lucky and one of you will recognize it.
Also, here is a description of Brian:
"Brian Shaffer is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs between 160 and 165 pounds. He has hazel eyes and has a tattoo of the Pearl Jam symbol on his upper right arm. Anyone with information is asked to contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-645-8477 or 877-645-8477. Callers will remain anonymous."
Under my favorite headline "never dull," yesterday one of our show guests called late afternoon and cancelled. He was scheduled to appear last night. Gary Harris, lawyer (or former lawyer) for John Mark Karr's brother and father, called and said he could not do the show. Why? Somewhere between Wednesday, when he agreed to do our show last night, and yesterday when he called, he withdrew from representing the family. Why? Well, if you have been a lawyer for a number of years, you know that sometimes it just does not work out.
Gary Harris called me personally and gave me the details and I don't want to betray his confidence by giving you the details. Perhaps he will at some time come on our show and explain. Bottom line, however, I told him, "I have been there!" I also said, "This is one of those times you wonder why you did not go to medical school instead of law school." He laughed and agreed. Representing clients is not always smooth sailing.
You need to watch closely on Brit Hume's 6 p.m. ET show… you never know what you will see behind him in the newsroom. Newsrooms are very, very, very busy — there is lots going on. We live in the newsroom, sometimes even eating at our desks since we are literally crashing. And last night? Well, last night someone put a plate of cookies in the newsroom not far behind Brit's anchor chair (Brit is separated from the newsroom with soundproof glass so his set and anchor chair can feel like it is far away even though it is a short distance.) What happened? Well, the cookies in the newsroom got attention — let's just say they were an attractive nuisance. And one other thing, don't tell Brit — I don't think he knows (but he does have a good sense of humor) that there was chowing down in the back of his shot. And yes, while I did promise the behind the scenes in this blog, this one you could have seen yourself!
Now for some e-mails:
E-mail No. 1
I just you a question [sic]. Have you ever told FOX News how you won't help innocent people any more? I must say after calling your offices in California. [sic]
Todd Olson
ANSWER: Todd, I don't have an office in California. I work out of Washington, D.C. So it is a bit unclear where you are calling in California. Perhaps a California FOX Bureau, where I don't work? I must confess, after the tone of your note it is hard to feel very motivated to want to help you... I have no idea of your problem, but you might think of presenting it differently if you are looking for help.
E-mail No. 2
Greta,
Whatever happened to Roger Cossack, your old partner and occasional foil from CNN days? Is he still on TV? Could you have him as a guest?
Art Weintraub
ANSWER: Roger is like a brother to me. I talk to him often (and I should call him for lunch since I have not seen him in awhile.) He is at ESPN.
E-mail No. 3
I enjoyed hearing Pat Buchanan and his views. We hear every day how illegal immigration is destroying our great nation. We have no one to take a stand. Why?
We as a public have voiced our concerns and it falls on deaf ears. I must say I voted for Bush, for one reason. Because I believed he would not be afraid. I believed he would have the back bone to stand up to what ever difficulties should arise. I still believe he was the lesser of the two evils.
I believe the only thing the American people are looking for is leadership. We want someone to stand up and be firm, take a stand, lead.
It is a shame, the Republicans and the Democrats are more worried about their respective parties than they are about the American public.
I would gladly vote for the village idiot if they had a back bone and would do something about illegal immigration and take a definite stand on terrorism. If you want to see the country united, give us someone that will run on the platform of freedom and watch them take the vote.
Thanks for listening, I am just so frustrated.
Jan
Fyffe, AL
E-mail No. 4
Dear Greta,
This may be a naive question, but why are people so adamantly defending [John] Mark Karr and worried about his rights with a DNA test when he is confessing? I don't believe he is the killer, but if he thinks he is, let him take the DNA test and defend himself. Why would people go to such lengths to protect someone who is confessing?
Christina Sullivan
Mashpee, MA
E-mail No. 5
Hi Greta,
I saw your story on Brian Shaffer, the OSU student who's been missing since April 1. I went to the Web site that was given out on your program so I could find more information and then read more about it at various places online. It's an unbelievably sad story and deserves more attention. I know these missing persons cases are, unfortunately, a dime a dozen, but it would be nice to see this one highlighted on your program. There's too much attention given to crimes involving pretty young women, and not enough attention given to not-so-pretty young women...or males. Please keep us updated on this case.
Thanks Greta,
Dorothy Gainer
E-mail No. 6
Dear Greta,
It seems we've heard terms such as "hoax," "totally implausible" and "false confession" a hundred times during the last week from you and your panel of legal experts. Just once — could you please ask your panel to comment on how often criminal confessions actually turn about to be TRUE? That question has never been asked once! I find it quite remarkable that NOT A SINGLE ONE of your experts even entertains the possibility that this guy might be telling the truth. For "the record" — I'll go way out on a limb and predict a plethora of egg-covered faces in the very near future.
DL II
ANSWER: Confessions are often true. We just need to find corroborating evidence to any confession in order to assign it credible. This happens often that we can.
Send your thoughts and comments to: ontherecord@foxnews.com
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