Zelig Williams is a technically trained dancer with performing credits on some of the biggest Broadway’s musicals like “Hamilton” and “MJ The Experience.” He went missing Oct. 3, and now everyone wants to know what really happened.
According to police, Williams was last seen over two weeks ago at his Columbia, S.C. home. On Oct. 4, his family reported him missing after he failed to contact them, and he hasn’t been seen since, according to CNN. Apparently, a friend of Williams received a notification that he’d been in a car crash, but his vehicle was later found in a parking lot 20 miles from his home — near the Congaree National Park’s Palmetto Trail in Richland County, S.C. — with no signs of a crash.
Although Williams’ family says he “loves a good walking trail,” they believe something is clearly not right, reports CNN. His mother, Kathy Williams, and cousin Mieoki Corbett-Jacobs are urging the public to help them find their loved one, and they have now hired a private investigator to look into his disappearance, according to ABC.
Last week, the family hired Chandra Cleveland, a private investigator, to figure out what happened.
“I like to tell everyone that even you can go an hour and not speak to a person, but when you know that’s not their pattern, something needs to be done, and you need to call law enforcement immediately and report that,” Cleveland said. “That’s what this family did.”
Details leading up to Williams’ disappearance remain unclear. According to online sources, Williams sent an “S.O.S” message to his friend living New York, but the full story and timeline still aren’t adding up. His family is suspecting foul play.
“As a family, we’ve been searching. We’ve searched that area ourselves on foot more than once, and now we’re looking to expand our search,” said Corbett-Jacobs.
Family and law enforcement are also concerned because Williams does not have his prescribed medication, according to WLTX News. His family say they believe the 28-year-old stopped taking his medicine which could put him in a trance-like state and subsequently make him vulnerable.
Williams recently returned to South Carolina after relocating from New York City where he worked as a dance teacher, according to Deadline. His cousin continued saying Williams “didn’t wander off. This is definitely a missing persons (case) with suspected foul play.”
Authorities say they continue to exhaust all resources possible to help find the 28-year-old dancer, but “we feel confident there are people out in the community who may know something that can help us but just not realizing they have the last key to the puzzle,” according Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
Now, friends and colleagues of Williams, who is respected within the Broadway community, are raising awareness of his disappearance, including actor and performer Hugh Jackman, who worked with Williams on “The Man. The Music. The Show.” Jackman took to Instagram to share Williams’ story, writing, “ZELIG we love you and are praying for your safe return.”
During a press conference about Williams’ disappearance, his mother, Kathy, said “I just want Zelig to come home.” Kathy was visibly distraught and even fell into the arms of Corbett-Jacobs while sobbing .“He’s all I got, he’s all I got, he’s all I got, please bring my baby home,” she said.
Williams is Kathy’s only surviving child. In 2004, Kathy lost her two daughters in a car accident, reports Deadline. “He told me when he danced, he feels his sisters with him,” Kathy Williams told CNN in an interview. “And he is a awesome dancer, amazing dancer, and that’s what he loved doing, so that keep(s) him going.”
Authorities describe Williams as “a Black male with a light complexion, 6’0”, 150lbs, has short black hair, brown eyes, and a birthmark on his throat.” Anyone with information into Williams’ disappearance can call the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 576-3000 or contact Crime Stoppers.