Awful tragedy after caring grandson, 31, took cross-country road trip to say goodbye to dying grandma
A devoted grandson who vanished while taking a cross-country road trip to say goodbye to his dying grandma has tragically been found dead.
Marcus Anthony Taylor, 31, crashed his Hyundai Santa Fe in Iowa on the night of April 8, more than halfway into his 18-hour trip from Fort Worth, Texas, to Wisconsin.
At the time of the crash, Taylor was not a missing person and he was not found inside the vehicle after trying to find shelter, meaning deputies were unable to link the car to him.
He was traveling to visit his dying grandmother one last time when the accident occurred. When he failed to arrive safely, his family alerted authorities and a missing person report was filed.
On April 25, three weeks after his car was discovered, authorities returned to the crash site to investigate further.
Taylor's body was eventually found about a mile from the crash site, inside an enclosed shelter nearby.
Authorities said it appears he made his way to the structure after the accident in an effort to save himself.
The revelation sparked horror on social media and raised questions about how thorough the initial search of the area was after police discovered a crashed car with no driver.
'An extensive search was done that night, including a drone with thermal imaging as well as a K9 officer and other fire and rescue crew members and no driver or any individual was able to be located in or around the vehicle,' the sheriff's office said at the time.
'Area hospitals and businesses were also checked. At the time of this accident, he was not an entered missing person.'
Taylor's grandmother died on April 18, 10 days after he vanished but seven days before his family learned that he'd also died.
His grieving relative shared a tribute after learning of his death, describing Taylor as 'a bright, young man, who had so much life ahead of him.
'We are saddened by this loss, but comforted that he joins his mom Maria and recently passed Granny in heaven! Rest in peace Marcus!'
Another relative added: 'All who knew his beautiful mother Maria, who passed a few years ago, know that she was a true angel.
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