Benjamin Taylor

### Occupation

CEO of Taylor & Co *(Pre-Apocalypse)*Former Leader of his own group *(Post-Apocalypse)*

### Family

Betty Taylor - Late Wife †Sarah Taylor - Daughter †

## Biography

### Cause of Death

Self-inflicted gunshot to the head after being mortally wounded.

"*You gave my daughter a glimmer of hope during a time when she was at her most vulnerable, and for that I am forever in your debt.*"
—Benjamin to Edward Remar[src]

Benjamin Taylor is a main character and a former antagonist in Route to Paradise. He served as the secondary antagonist of Season 1 and the first half of Season 2. He was the CEO of his own company, Taylor & Co, and had an indirect hand in starting the zombie apocalypse, due to being manipulated for his company’s resources, wealth and backing while desperately trying to prevent his daughter from dying of cancer like his wife. Believing he was backing a disease research and prevention project led by Cornelius Dance, he was unknowingly funding the creation of a deadly virus that was later unleashed on the world.

At the beginning of the outbreak, Benjamin made a base out of the Willamette Museum while trying to find his daughter Sarah with his personal army. It is eventually discovered that Damerae Badrick and his gang, The Rastas, are holding Sarah hostage, allowing Benjamin to be manipulated into doing Badrick’s bidding for his daughter’s sake. This leads to a desperate Benjamin starting conflict with the mall group on Badrick’s orders so that he can secure his daughter’s safety.

After Sarah succumbs to her illness and dies in his arms after he finally gets her back, Benjamin becomes hellbent on killing Damerae Badrick and his gang. He starts a war that spirals Willamette into a state of anarchy, killing many of his own men in the process. Believed to be reckless and unstable, Benjamin’s power is seized from him by his right-hand man Shane Haywood, who sends him away from the group, with only one loyalist, Mike Simpson, choosing to go with him.

After the battle of the mall, Benjamin remains in Willamette with Mike, intending to hunt for Damerae Badrick over the winter. When he crosses paths with Edward Remar and his group, the two unite with the same goal. Benjamin and his group eventually stop at Willamette High School, where they encounter Dean Howards and learn about Badrick’s recent movements.

Later, a bloodthirsty Benjamin leads an organized attack on the docks in an effort to kill Badrick once and for all. However, due to the gang leader’s reinforcements, Benjamin’s team is hit hard, and Mike sacrifices himself so that Benjamin can escape. Following the failed attack, Benjamin dwells on Mike’s last words to him and loses his ambition to be Badrick’s killer, instead opting to wait for the right moment. When his group discovers that the final battle with Badrick is taking place at the football stadium, Benjamin is hesitant to join the fight.

Later, he comes to Edward’s rescue and saves his life while he is fighting Badrick. Here, Benjamin finally makes peace with what has happened, and calmly tells the psychopath that he has lost and cannot hurt him anymore. Moments later, Edward finishes Badrick off.

Following the defeat of The Rastas’, Benjamin tells his story to the group about his part in the apocalypse, and they agree to join him in travelling to Denver City to his headquarters to further explore this. Benjamin thanks Edward for being there for his daughter while she was still alive, admitting that he is eternally grateful. He heads into Denver City with a group led by William Reynes to explore his skyscraper, however Benjamin is mortally wounded by a hostile man and apologizes to the group for not being able to give them all of the answers they wanted. Benjamin admits he just wants to see his daughter again, before killing himself to prevent reanimation.