In 1980, a Man Claimed He Was Boarding a Spaceship With Aliens and Has Been Missing Since Then

In small towns, strange stories often get exchanged. But some stories don’t fade with time. One such enigma unfolded in the Canadian town of Duncan, British Columbia, where in the winter of 1980, a man disappeared without a trace. Not because he was lost in the forest or swept away by a river, but because he claimed he was leaving Earth altogether. Granger Taylor, a 32-year-old mechanical prodigy, left behind a cryptic note on one unfateful night, November 29, 1980, announcing that he was about to board an alien spaceship, according to Unilad.

The letter 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. 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," according to the Mirror. Since that night, no one has seen or heard from him again.

Taylor’s story is as intriguing as it is tragic. Dropping out of school early, he showed exceptional talent in mechanical work. By his early twenties, he had restored a car, a bulldozer, an abandoned steam locomotive, and even a WWII fighter plane. He was a genius indeed.

Yet as brilliant as he was with machines, he became somewhat obsessed with something far less tangible—extraterrestrial life. Granger firmly believed he was in communication with aliens. He even built a life-sized spaceship in his backyard using parts he secured from junkyards. As if this were not enough, surprisingly, in the months leading to his disappearance, his behavior grew more bizarre. As per the claims of his sister, he was taking acid several times a day and was using cannabis regularly, according to Vice. But, still, this outcome was never expected by his family in their wildest dreams. Another important point to note is what happened next.

A desperate search began. His family and the police searched the area, but unfortunately, nothing helped. However, the story does not end here. Six years later, in March 1986, forestry workers discovered the wreckage of a vehicle near Mount Prevost, close to where Taylor had last been seen. The Datsun truck’s vehicle registration matched Granger’s. Now, you won’t believe what they saw inside. Inside the blast zone were tiny fragments of human bone and scraps of what appeared to be his shirt, as per the Mirror. Authorities claimed that the explosion, most probably caused by dynamite, had killed him, but whether the blast was an accident or planned suicide, that’s still the question.

Most importantly, Taylor was known to carry dynamite, using it to clear tree stumps, and was experienced in handling it, according to Unilad. Still, it is difficult to digest why he took it that particular night. Also, why write a note about aliens? More than 40 years have passed, and still, there is no clear explanation. Taylor’s story is still a mystery and still haunts everybody who hears about it.