Tragic mystery of man who disappeared after writing note saying he was boarding spaceship

On a stormy night in November 1980, Granger Taylor (32), a mechanical genius from the Canadian town of Duncan, vanished into thin air, leaving his loved ones baffled.

Known for his exceptional talent in restoring complex machinery, Taylor had a reputation among his family and friends for being incredibly smart.

Having dropped out of school to work in local mechanical shops, his remarkable ability to fix just about anything became apparent. However, Taylor also harboured an extraordinary claim – he believed he was in contact with aliens.

In the months leading up to his disappearance, Taylor’s sister revealed to Vice that he had developed a habit of taking acid (LSD) multiple times a day. During this period, he built a life-size replica of a spaceship using scavenged parts from the local dump.

Then, without warning, he disappeared, leaving behind a note for his family.

The cryptic message explained that he was embarking on a 42-month journey aboard an alien spaceship, driven by recurring dreams that promised an interstellar adventure across the vast universe, after which he would return.

Taylor’s farewell note read: “Dear mother and father, I have gone away to walk aboard an alien spaceship, as recurring dreams assured a 42-month interstellar voyage to explore the vast universe, then return.”

He added, “I am leaving behind all my possessions to you as I will no longer require the use of any. Please use the instructions in my will as a guide to help. Love, Granger.”

It wasn’t until six years later that any sign of Granger was discovered, when forestry workers stumbled upon a blast site with a wrecked vehicle near the farm where the Taylor family lived.

Police were able to confirm that the registration of the destroyed vehicle matched that of Taylor’s Datsun pickup.

Human bone fragments and a piece of clothing, thought to be part of Taylor’s shirt, were also found at the scene, but no complete body was ever recovered.

A coroner’s inquest concluded that Taylor must have perished in the explosion that obliterated the vehicle, surmising that he had been transporting dynamite in his truck when it detonated.

However, it remained inconclusive whether this was intentional or accidental. Taylor frequently carried dynamite in his truck, as it was commonly used in the area for tree stump removal, and he was experienced in using it.

The reasons behind his disappearance that night and the note left for his family remain a mystery, with no definitive explanation for what transpired or why.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.