Brian Shaffer was in a long-term relationship with Alexis Waggoner, a fellow second-year medical student, who he was planning to ask to marry him during the first week of April, when they were to be on vacation in Miami (Wagner). For the most part, Brian was a happy person, as reported by NBC News. Brian had everything go for him: he was good looking, he had good grades, and he had a girlfriend he adored (Stafford). More importantly, Brian had a strong family life. He had a loving brother, father, and mother up until she passed away. Although the death of Brian’s mother hurt him, he always reassured his friends and family he was handling it well, and in a way it brought him and his brother, Derek closer (Wagner).