Lets discuss Bryan Nisenfield. He's the college student who's severed foot was found on a beach back around 1997ish...

Some think that a friend of his (who he may have also been sexually involved with) killed him because Bryan was going to potentially out him to people on campus.

What do you think happened to him?

I think this case is so complex that any number of things could have happened.

Suicide: Bryan was upset and frustrated that he couldn't make the grade in college like he could in high school, when As came easily to him. He seemed lonely and withdrawn far from his family and friends. The segment describes him as well-liked with few close friends. He could have been depressed and in despair over his low grades, possible sexual orientation qualms, and the feeling that he couldn't stay for another three years but didn't want to drop out and disappoint his family. It doesn't seem too far of a stretch that he could have gone to his favorite seaside haunt and jumped, cracking from the pressure surrounding him.

Accident: Bryan liked to go write by the sea, even on a bridge. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he slipped and fell and was swept into the water. The fall would have been too high for him to have any hope of surviving. Bryan could have fallen tragically. His father said he dorm was left as though he had planned to come back and had just left to get a soda or something.

Murder: Bryan called his father and begged him to pick him up. He was getting death threats from this estranged "friend" and was in fear of his life. The friend claimed the calls were in jest, but I think if that was the case, Bryan wouldn't have been afraid enough to call his dad to come get him. There's also the possibility that Bryan was gay and afraid to come out, worried that the "friend" would expose him. And argument could have gotten out of hand and led to murder, especially if he jilted this guy (assuming the guy wanted a relationship). Because only Bryan's leg and foot were found, we have no way of knowing about any other trauma on his body. We also have the mysterious end note that administrators were "hiding" information, but little is disclosed about that.

I think all three are possible, but I'd love to hear some other opinions on this case. A lot of people latch onto the suicide theory, but it's important to remember that we don't know conclusively if he had depression or was just going through a rough time. I wish we had more details here.

My theory is that it was murder. Suicide and accidents are always a possibility but I think the clues lead to foul play. The bad part is that a real suspect seems few and far between when it comes to this case so definitely complex with all the potential theories. Clues to foul play but no real suspect make this one a hard one to solve. Hopefully it gets solved one day.

I am torn. It could plausibly be either.

I think a suicide is possible. He was despondent and wanted to leave school, by numerous accounts. He may have been confused and struggling with his sexual orientation, which could have also played a role in his depression. I know he called his dad and begged his dad to come pick him up because he was afraid. I don't remember from the segment: Did he specify that he was afraid of his friend, or was he just afraid? Part of me speculates that he was struggling with the decision to hurt himself and made a last ditch effort attempt to have his father intervene. The "cry for help," if you will.

On the other hand, if he was going to kill himself, I don't understand why his room would look like he just stepped out to grab a snack from the vending machine. I'm not a suicide expert, but I do know that many folks who contemplate the act go through the motions of giving items away or putting their affairs in order. Bryan clearly didn't do that.

I'm left with two options: He was either the victim of foul play (either from the "friend" or a random act of violence that could have occurred while he was walking down the beach) or something so drastic happened to him that made him decide he didn't want to live another minute.

I've always thought foul play on this one. But the suicide argument is compelling.

Bryan Nisenfeld. Just spelling it correctly so it will turn up in search results.

FWIW, this case is on the Bizarre Murders set, so they apparently feel he was murdered.

It should be noted that there is a possibility he could still be alive. Not a high probability, but a person can live without a foot or a leg.

I always thought the actor playing Bryan looked like Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Not how Joseph looks nowadays, but back then when he was on Third Rock From The Sun and had the longer hair.

actually, there are quite a few articles on the net about this, including a 5-part article by Jody Ericson, who was intereviewed on the segment. Links to some of them are below. You definitely get a sense that the college as well as local police did a LOUSY job.

Some of the more interesting highlights:

-The friend/boyfriend is named. His name is Josh Cohen. His last known residence was in Marietta, GA.

-Piles of sand were found in Bryan's bed. He was known as a neat-freak.

-Said that Bryan attempted to make other friends and pursue other activities, but it was Josh who prevented that from happening. Josh is described as being very clingy and high-maintenance.

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/alt1/archive/news/97/06/26/ROGER_WILLIAMS.html

http://www.rbtaylor.net/bryan.htm

I find it interesting that Bryan's mother said he was "very homophobic." I've heard it's common for many closeted gay people to feign homophobia in order to mask their true feelings (sadly out of fear of being discriminated against themselves). Whether he was gay, straight, or bisexual (with his feelings of infatuation for a woman mentioned in the article), it may be important for the case regarding the "friend." If Bryan spurned him because he wasn't gay or was afraid of coming out of the closet, Josh could have retaliated and not taken the rejection well, considering how clingy he was.

This article confirms the BS of Josh's statement that the calls are a joke. "Hey, I'm coming to get you." If this was something they joked about all the time and that's all Josh was doing, Bryan wouldn't have called his parents to ask for a ride in such a state of fear. I also found the sand on his bed to be bizarre. A neat freak would never leave a bunch of sand on their bed. How did it get there?


On a side note, the university's handling of this case is APPALLING. Telling tour guides to say he was "safe at home?" This is just horrible. I'm surprised his parents didn't file a lawsuit.

This case isn't complex. It has all the marks of a suicide. According to what I've read from contemporaneous news stories and from the episode itself, Nisenfeld was tormented about coming out. As a gay man, I know what it's like to realize my essence when my family and friends may not be. Nothing I've read suggests Cohen murdered him, and it's offensive that the episode allowed Mrs. Nisenfeld to air her suspicions about him when the episode neglected to mention he didn't participate or declined participation. It's standard journalism.

Feet become severed from legs after water has beaten a body around and sea creatures have had their way. The state of his dorm room is a red herring; I don't understand why that would matter. In my experience suicides are planned, but they have nothing to do with cleanliness.

This case isn't complex. It has all the marks of a suicide. According to what I've read from contemporaneous news stories and from the episode itself, Nisenfeld was tormented about coming out. As a gay man, I know what it's like to realize my essence when my family and friends may not be. Nothing I've read suggests Cohen murdered him, and it's offensive that the episode allowed Mrs. Nisenfeld to air her suspicions about him when the episode neglected to mention he didn't participate or declined participation. It's standard journalism.

Feet become severed from legs after water has beaten a body around and sea creatures have had their way. The state of his dorm room is a red herring; I don't understand why that would matter. In my experience suicides are planned, but they have nothing to do with cleanliness.

^ This.

It should be noted that nobody knows if Bryan really was gay, it's purely speculative. The only one that knows is Bryan and he obviously isn't talking. These days, EVERYONE'S sexuality is questioned. Pick a random celebrity, and I guarantee you there are several "Are they gay?" posts/threads about them on the net.

And assuming he was gay, we don't know that that's what drove him to suicide. The only alleged problem he was having with his (alleged) homosexuality was the harassment he received, but that was coming from one of his presumably gay piers. His parents didn't appear to have any problems with homosexuals.

Honestly, the whole thing reeks of cover-up. I honestly get a Tommy Burkett vibe here. His dorm was apparently in disarray and he was a neat-freak and unlikely to leave it in such a mess.

I don't know that Josh Cohen was involved, but I have to wonder if Bryan was an informant or something. His room appeared like it was ransacked.

College dorm rooms are not models of cleanliness and order, as I'm sure many of you can confirm.

The university bungled this badly. This was the case's most worthwhile legacy: it lead to congressional action on the process by which a university informs parents when a student disappears.

It should be noted that nobody knows if Bryan really was gay, it's purely speculative. The only one that knows is Bryan and he obviously isn't talking. These days, EVERYONE'S sexuality is questioned. Pick a random celebrity, and I guarantee you there are several "Are they gay?" posts/threads about them on the net.

And assuming he was gay, we don't know that that's what drove him to suicide. The only alleged problem he was having with his (alleged) homosexuality was the harassment he received, but that was coming from one of his presumably gay piers. His parents didn't appear to have any problems with homosexuals.

Honestly, the whole thing reeks of cover-up. I honestly get a Tommy Burkett vibe here. His dorm was apparently in disarray and he was a neat-freak and unlikely to leave it in such a mess.

I don't know that Josh Cohen was involved, but I have to wonder if Bryan was an informant or something. His room appeared like it was ransacked.

You make a lot of good points. I feel like it could have been either a suicide or homicide. I fall more towards homicide, as his roommate made in jest phone calls and argued with Bryan before his disappearance. Bryan could have also have felt ashamed and embarrassed after the argument, thinking his sexuality was going to be exposed, and then jumped off Mount Hope Bridge to his death. We may never know, the rest of Bryan's body has never been found to determine either conclusion.

I thought only his foot was missing?

I thought only his foot was missing?
Only his foot and a shin bone were found. The rest of his body is missing.

Whether he was gay, straight, or bisexual (with his feelings of infatuation for a woman mentioned in the article), it may be important for the case regarding the "friend." If Bryan spurned him because he wasn't gay or was afraid of coming out of the closet, Josh could have retaliated and not taken the rejection well, considering how clingy he was.

See, I'm wondering if it was the opposite. What if it was Bryan who made the pass at this Josh guy and was rebuffed? I know Bryan wasn't out as being gay and he very well may not have been. However, some people view college as a fresh start, a way to reinvent yourself and start fresh. If Bryan was gay, he may have not held back and hit on Josh, only to be turned down. Maybe Josh harassed him and called him homophobic names and embarrassed him around school and around his friends. He may have even blackmailed him. Could something like this have led to his depression? Just spitballin.

I've always assumed based on evidence that it was Bryan who made the first move.

I've always assumed based on evidence that it was Bryan who made the first move.

My memory of this one is a bit foggy as it has been years since I've seen it and I cant find it anywhere online. What evidence was there that Bryan made the first move?

According to the evidence, the other student reacted violently -- the relationship changed. I assumed Nisenfeld made a move. It doesn't change things.

I thought they mention that maybe they were both getting hot and heavy This Josh fellow didn't want it to be known he was having sexual relations with Bryan. Maybe Bryan didn't really care if he was bisexual, gay or just experimenting with his sexuality at that time until things changed with Josh's personality. His foot was found on the beach shore, but where is the rest of him?

Whoa whoa -- no mention of anything "hot and heavy" on the show. Who's "they"?

I'll repeat what I said last year: for the show not to mention that Josh Cohen "declined to participate" or "declined to comment" is journalistic malfeasance, especially cruel when Bryan's mother is allowed to air accusations without rebuttal.

I'll repeat what I said last year: for the show not to mention that Josh Cohen "declined to participate" or "declined to comment" is journalistic malfeasance, especially cruel when Bryan's mother is allowed to air accusations without rebuttal.


As a former radio reporter, assignment editor & news producer, I could not agree more. Examples like the one above, as well as a lot of what passes as news, how sources are attributed and so on in journalism today is apalling.

And UM has done it before, so I'm not sure what was up in that episode

This one has always stuck with me. I lean more on the side of murder, but the whole thing brings up so many more issues. The segment couldn't have been any more vague. I assume this was because the family is completely in the dark. College is an interesting thing. Parents are completely unaware of what is going on in their kid's life for the most part. I never gave much thought to the possibility of suicide, but I suppose he could have been depressed. The segment talked about him not doing well at the school and having issues with sexuality. And yes, that kid looked like the 3rd rock version of Levitt. Nothing like Bryan.

It should be noted that nobody knows if Bryan really was gay, it's purely speculative. The only one that knows is Bryan and he obviously isn't talking. These days, EVERYONE'S sexuality is questioned. Pick a random celebrity, and I guarantee you there are several "Are they gay?" posts/threads about them on the net.

And assuming he was gay, we don't know that that's what drove him to suicide. The only alleged problem he was having with his (alleged) homosexuality was the harassment he received, but that was coming from one of his presumably gay piers. His parents didn't appear to have any problems with homosexuals.


Bingo.

I'm reading some of the replies in this thread and I am completely lost over Bryan and Josh, one of them making the first move (based on "evidence"), possibly being hot and heavy...etc.

It was never proven or confirmed that either boy was gay. The professor interviewed in the UM segment mentioned that from reading some of Bryan's poems that she thought he sounded like someone who was questioning his sexuality but it was just speculation on her part. Ditto the speculation of the RA thinking the fight was a lovers quarrel. Even Bryan's mother said it was possible that he was gay but she had no way of knowing for sure.

Bingo.

I'm reading some of the replies in this thread and I am completely lost over Bryan and Josh, one of them making the first move (based on "evidence"), possibly being hot and heavy...etc.

It was never proven or confirmed that either boy was gay. The professor interviewed in the UM segment mentioned that from reading some of Bryan's poems that she thought he sounded like someone who was questioning his sexuality but it was just speculation on her part. Ditto the speculation of the RA thinking the fight was a lovers quarrel. Even Bryan's mother said it was possible that he was gay but she had no way of knowing for sure.

I get what you mean but how many people close to the situation that knew both individuals have to say they believed it to be some sort of relationship quarrel, before we assume that it probably was? Not saying that is why he was murdered, but it certainly seems like the sexuality issue was legit.

Also, unrelated to this quote, but I don't think the foot means anything. Bryan was likely killed and thrown in the ocean where animals ate his body. Its not uncommon for part of a body to not be eaten and it to wash ashore.

Reminds me of this thread I created:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=281266&highlight=homosexual+elided

I found this thread during one of my many google searches and feel the need to respond, even if it's 2 years later. I knew Bryan very well and was his HS girlfriend. We were still friends when he went missing. I think about him and his death everyday and feel like his case has been forgotten. I know to everyone it's just a case but he was a very real person. I feel very strongly that Bryan did not commit suicide. Bryan was not gay and if he was he would not have killed himself over it. He had the type of friends and family that simply would not have cared if he was. It would have been a non issue. I think Bryan knew something he shouldn't have known about his former roommate or perhaps his former roommate blamed him for getting kicked out. If he called his dad to say he was afraid of him, he had good reason to be saying that.

I found this thread during one of my many google searches and feel the need to respond, even if it's 2 years later. I knew Bryan very well and was his HS girlfriend. We were still friends when he went missing. I think about him and his death everyday and feel like his case has been forgotten. I know to everyone it's just a case but he was a very real person. I feel very strongly that Bryan did not commit suicide. Bryan was not gay and if he was he would not have killed himself over it. He had the type of friends and family that simply would not have cared if he was. It would have been a non issue. I think Bryan knew something he shouldn't have known about his former roommate or perhaps his former roommate blamed him for getting kicked out. If he called his dad to say he was afraid of him, he had good reason to be saying that.

Thanks for posting. My condolences. The reporter, however, did find evidence in his poetry and diaries that he had, at the very least, same sex longings, which are common enough that it shouldn't demean your relationship with him.

Poetry is ambiguous. My point is, if he was, it would not be something he would have killed himself over. He had the kind of friends who wouldn't have cared and his family certainly would not have. It's upsetting to read so many opinions from people who didn't know him, say he killed himself over being gay. It feels dismissive.

I found this thread during one of my many google searches and feel the need to respond, even if it's 2 years later. I knew Bryan very well and was his HS girlfriend. We were still friends when he went missing. I think about him and his death everyday and feel like his case has been forgotten. I know to everyone it's just a case but he was a very real person. I feel very strongly that Bryan did not commit suicide. Bryan was not gay and if he was he would not have killed himself over it. He had the type of friends and family that simply would not have cared if he was. It would have been a non issue. I think Bryan knew something he shouldn't have known about his former roommate or perhaps his former roommate blamed him for getting kicked out. If he called his dad to say he was afraid of him, he had good reason to be saying that.

Thank you for posting. Bryan's case has always troubled me. I'm sorry for your loss.

Poetry is ambiguous. My point is, if he was, it would not be something he would have killed himself over. He had the kind of friends who wouldn't have cared and his family certainly would not have. It's upsetting to read so many opinions from people who didn't know him, say he killed himself over being gay. It feels dismissive.

I apologize for the speculation about his sexuality. If I may ask, did you ever meet Josh Cohen?

I don't want to offend the newest poster, but I don't see what's horrible about sexuality speculation. Wondering if someone is gay is not offensive.

The sexuality angle, if even true, lends to someone becoming a statistic. Especially in that era.

But I don't think it's really possible to deduce anything, suicide / accident / murder, based on only a foot and a shoe.

Watching the episode again for the first time in years, I'm struck again by how lazy it was assembled. All we hear are his parents: he was lonely, they said, because he was away from home. This may be true! It's a reasonable assumption. But this doesn't rule out suicide or an accidental fall.

More disturbingly, the segment includes no interviews with professors, friends, resident advisors, or casual acquaintances from Roger Williams. And allowing his parents, however well-intentioned, to imply that another student may have been involved in Nisenfeld's death without (a) allowing this student to refute the accusation or (b) disclosing that the student would not comment for the episode strikes me as journalistic malfeasance. As an instructor of journalism and administrator at a public university, I'm offended.

However, Roger Williams' not reporting him missing and holding on to the data for days is inexcusable. A lot's changed in twenty years but damn!