Brian Egg was a fixture in his South of Market neighborhood in San Francisco, a man known for his quiet kindness and somewhat eccentric nature. A 65-year-old native of the city, he had lived in his home on Clara Street since 1976. For years, he worked as a bartender at The Stud, a legendary gay bar that was a cornerstone of the city's LGBTQ+ community. Neighbors remembered Brian as a friendly "curmudgeon" who could be seen walking his dog, Lucky, cleaning trash off the street, and tending to the neighborhood's plants. He was also known for his compassion, sometimes allowing people who were homeless to stay in his home.
The last time anyone saw Brian alive was in late May or early June of 2018. In the weeks that followed, his family and friends grew worried. His brother, Devon, found it strange when he called and heard an unfamiliar voice on the answering machine identifying himself as "Nate," especially since Brian never used his machine.
Neighbors also noticed Brian's absence and saw unfamiliar people, who appeared to be homeless, coming and going from his house. Concerned, residents began discussing his disappearance on the social media site Nextdoor and called the San Francisco Police Department to request welfare checks. Officers responded to the home twice in late July but left after getting no answer at the door and seeing nothing they deemed suspicious.
The situation took a bizarre and alarming turn in early August 2018. Neighbors witnessed a man frantically cleaning the floors of Brian's home, using so much soapy water that it flowed out from under the door, carrying the strong odor of bleach. The activity culminated on August 14, when a commercial biohazard and crime scene cleanup truck from a company called Aftermath Services arrived at the residence. Alarmed by this surreal development, neighbors immediately called 911. Police responded and detained a man at the scene. This time, officers entered the home and, after a four-day search assisted by cadaver dogs, made a horrifying discovery.
On August 17, 2018, investigators found Brian Egg's remains. His decapitated and handless torso was concealed inside a large, chemical-filled fish tank hidden in a small room behind a picture. The body was badly decomposed and weighed down by a carpet, empty Drano bottles, and an iron sawhorse. His feet were also found in the tank, still inside socks. DNA analysis later confirmed the remains belonged to Brian. The San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office determined his death was a homicide caused by blunt-force trauma. His head and hands have never been recovered.
The investigation quickly led to two persons of interest. Robert McCaffrey, then 52, was arrested on August 14, the day the cleanup crew arrived. Neighbors said he was the one who met the crew with cash to pay them. Two days later, police arrested Lance Silva, then 39, at a nearby hotel. Investigators found that Brian's identity had been used to purchase a 2007 BMW for $5,500 on June 1, and Silva was linked to the car. Police believed Silva had also been using Brian's debit card. Both men were booked on suspicion of homicide, fraud, identity theft, and elder abuse. However, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office declined to file charges, citing the need for further investigation.
McCaffrey was released shortly after his arrest in August 2018. Silva, who had prior convictions for grand theft and fraud, was held on an unrelated parole violation but was released in April 2019. The decision not to prosecute the two men sparked outrage among Brian's friends, family, and neighbors, who felt the police had not acted with enough urgency when Brian was first reported missing. "It appears they've gotten away with murder because no one is in jail currently," his friend Scot Free said a year after the discovery. Brian's brother, Devon, was angered to learn of Silva's release through the media.
As of August 2026, the murder of Brian Egg remains an unsolved cold case. Neither of the original persons of interest was ever prosecuted in connection with his death. His former home on Clara Street was boarded up and became a target for graffiti and squatters for years before being sold. The grisly and unusual nature of the crime has left a lasting scar on the community, and those who knew Brian continue to wait for answers and for justice to be served. The San Francisco Police Department's investigation is officially still open.
