I watched a UM segment last night that involved a Rhode Island college student named Brian Nisenfeld. He was portrayed as being extremely close to his family, and he was apparently having a hard time adjusting to college life in his first semester. Anyway, one of his shoes with his foot still inside was discovered on a beach near the campus. He called his father one day, seeming very distraught,stating that someone was threatening him,and begged his father to come get him. It was widely speculated that Brian may have been involved in a homosexual relationship with a fellow student,and that this student was the one threatening him. At the end of the segment, a comment was made to the effect that administrators at Brian's college were withholding information. Have there been any updates on this case?

Hi, SteelersFan, welcome to the board, btw. :wave: Unfortunately no updates on Bryan's murder, but in or around 2000 the House did adopt a provision into law that requires colleges and universities to notify parents of students 21 and younger if they are missing from campus. It's referred to as Bryan's Law:

http://www.house.gov/andrews/pressarchive/bryanlaw61300.html

Here's also a link to a thread here that I think has a few articles in it. I know it may not tell you much more than what you already know, but I thought you might like to check it out anyway:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=158998

Hi, SteelersFan, welcome to the board, btw. :wave: Unfortunately no updates on Bryan's murder, but in or around 2000 the House did adopt a provision into law that requires colleges and universities to notify parents of students 21 and younger if they are missing from campus. It's referred to as Bryan's Law:

http://www.house.gov/andrews/pressarchive/bryanlaw61300.html

Here's also a link to a thread here that I think has a few articles in it. I know it may not tell you much more than what you already know, but I thought you might like to check it out anyway:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=158998
Thanks for the welcome greeting and the link. Definitely one of the more intriguing segments in my opinion. Hard to believe that this case has remained unsolved for 10 to 15 years. IMO, this is one of those cases, like Circleville, Amy Billig,and the Wackers, where any number of things could have happened, and where I do not have a definite opinion.

IMO, this is one of those cases, like Circleville, Amy Billig,and the Wackers, where any number of things could have happened, and where I do not have a definite opinion.

I don't either. I lean strongly towards foul play, though of course, considering the foot. It might not necessarily be the result of a hate crime, but I wouldn't rule it out at all.

In all likelihood, it probably was foul play. During the segment, it was speculated that his death could have been the result of an accident. Considering that his severed foot was found on the beach, I find it hard to believe that it was an accident

I watched a UM segment last night that involved a Rhode Island college student named Brian Nisenfeld. He was portrayed as being extremely close to his family, and he was apparently having a hard time adjusting to college life in his first semester. Anyway, one of his shoes with his foot still inside was discovered on a beach near the campus. He called his father one day, seeming very distraught,stating that someone was threatening him,and begged his father to come get him. It was widely speculated that Brian may have been involved in a homosexual relationship with a fellow student,and that this student was the one threatening him. At the end of the segment, a comment was made to the effect that administrators at Brian's college were withholding information. Have there been any updates on this case?

This was a sad case, but if you re-watch the segment, one of things that actually caused to be a "unsolved mystery" was the fact that Nisenfeld's family wasn't very close. I say this because they seem to have trouble admitting that their son was likely gay even after his death.

A "close" family might not talk in detail about a person's sexual preference but they would accept it. That Nisenfeld felt like he couldn't honestly and openly talk w/ his family about his issues, may have been one of the reasons that this incident (which I believe that the evidence points towards as being a suicide) occurred.

In all likelihood, it probably was foul play. During the segment, it was speculated that his death could have been the result of an accident. Considering that his severed foot was found on the beach, I find it hard to believe that it was an accident

The human foot is attached to the rest of body only by muscle and connective tissue. Advanced decomposition, coupled w/ animal predation, could easily explain the foot becoming detached from the body. The segment doesn't mention that the foot was in any way severed from the body by any unnatural means.