The cryptic metal structure which has captivated mystery hunters’ imagination ever since it was discovered in the Utah desert last week, has been stolen, according to disappointed pilgrims who traveled hundreds of miles to see it.
The Bureau of Land Management in Utah has confirmed a series of “credible reports” that the monolith is no more, saying that the structure was taken by an unknown “person or group” on Friday night.
BLM did not remove the structure which is considered private property.
"We have received credible reports that the illegally installed structure, referred to as the “monolith” has been removed by an unknown party. The BLM did not remove the structure which is considered private property..." More: https://t.co/ZXJDGzxDaD pic.twitter.com/xXHdijk496
— BLM Utah (@BLMUtah) November 29, 2020
Officials said they still have no clue who removed the 10ft obelisk – let alone installed it there in the first place, possibly years ago.
But backpackers and thrill hunters, who flocked into the area immediately after its location was pinpointed by online sleuths, believe the artefact was stolen rather than taken by rightful owners, be they terrestrial or extraterrestrial.
Riccardo Marino and Sierra Van Meter, a pair of hikers who claim to be the first to arrive at the scene possibly just minutes after the obelisk vanished, said that “all that was left in its place was a message written in the dirt that said 'bye b*tch' with a fresh pee stain right next to it.”
We arrived at the location to see nothing but the foul markings left and we realized we must have been the first people to see it removed.
In a bid to pay the 'space oddity' its due respect, they created a “rendition of the monolith returning back to space” instead of being taken by petty thieves.
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In a video blog about the incident, they also recall how on their way to the scene they heard voices in the dark and saw a suspicious truck “hauling a large object strapped down in the bed with the hatch open.”
Yep.
— 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐞 (@brian_schnee) November 29, 2020
It's gone.
📸Courtesy: Kelsea Dockham | Canyon State Overland pic.twitter.com/xPAnoyNMgE
In the meantime, someone has since installed a small cairn marking the spot where the mysterious structure – a 3-meter-tall, not-so-monolithic hollow pillar with triangular cross section – once stood, according to a series of photos shared by another hiker and camper, Richard Michaelson.
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