SC SC - Zelig Williams, 28, needs meds, last seen at his home in Columbia, vehicle found in area of Congaree Natl Park, 3 Oct 2024

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The sheriff's department said 28-year-old Zelig Williams was last seen at his home in the 400 block of Longwood Road in Columbia on Oct. 3.


It was also reported that Williams was seen driving in the area of the Congaree State Park, and his vehicle was located there.

Authorities add that Williams is in need of prescribed medication.
 

Williams was last seen Oct. 3 at his home in the 400 block of Longwood Road, according to the release. That’s in Columbia, between Bluff and Garners Ferry roads, not far from Exit 9 on Interstate 77.

It’s not clear if Williams was alone when he was last seen, but the vehicle he was driving was found in the Congaree National Park area, the sheriff’s department said. That’s about 12 miles from Williams’ home.

Williams has medical issues that require treatment and is in need of prescribed medicine
 

Further investigation suggested he may have been driving in the area of Congaree National Park. A park spokesperson later clarified details released by the sheriff's department regarding where the vehicle was found. According to the spokesperson, the vehicle was found in the parking lot of the Wateree Passage of the Palmetto Trail at the intersection of U.S. 601 and Bluff Road, which is about a mile north of the closest portion of the park and not on its grounds.
Park authorities said there was no active search for Williams in the park.
 

Williams was last seen Oct. 3 at his home in the 400 block of Longwood Road, according to the release. That’s in Columbia, between Bluff and Garners Ferry roads, not far from Exit 9 on Interstate 77.

It’s not clear if Williams was alone when he was last seen, but the vehicle he was driving was found in the Congaree National Park area, the sheriff’s department said. That’s about 12 miles from Williams’ home.

Williams has medical issues that require treatment and is in need of prescribed medicine

From the linked article:

Williams, a 2014 graduate of Dreher High School, has performed on Broadway, and was a cast member of the smash-hit show “Hamilton” in 2016.

Williams also appeared in the 2022 production Broadway performance of “MJ The Musical,” in a variety of roles, and also has traveled on Hugh Jackman’s world tour as a vocalist/dancer.

Williams has a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in commercial dance from Pace University, with a focus in choreography, according to his Broadway Dance Center bio.
 

Monday marked day three in the search for Zelig Williams.

Williams’ car was found by a deputy in the Palmetto Trail Parking lot off Bluff Road around 11p.m.

Investigators said the deputy was out patrolling the area when he saw the car parked there and ran the plates.

WIS was there as family members took boats lent to them by people in the community out on the Congaree river just 10 minutes away from the parking lot where Williams’ car was found.

On Monday, DNR crews flew helicopters over the Congaree river and also searched the waterways by boat.

WIS also spotted their crews at the trail Monday evening.
 

Sheriff Lott said they’re investigating this as a missing person that could involve foul play.

“We’ve searched on foot in the air of various locations,” Lott said. “Other investigative techniques that we will use involving cell phones and some other things that I don’t want to discuss at this point.”
 

Just before midnight on Oct. 5, a Richland County sheriff’s deputy found his car in a trail parking lot.

Williams' car was found with the key inside, as well as a profile photo of him that he’d use for show auditions.

“We have no idea what his intentions were when he left the house with that photo,” she said.
 

Williams’ family says they knew something was wrong almost immediately after he left home that day.

His aunt Christine McLaughlin Barber says the family was made aware of an SOS alert from his phone within ten minutes of him leaving the house, the sheriff's department confirms to PEOPLE.


They received the ping through a friend in New York, she says, adding that the alert indicated a crash.


The family did not find any evidence of the crash, she told the outlet, and the family grew even more worried when Williams did not return home that night.
 
I guess I’m not fully understanding the SOS alert that was sent to a friend.

Is this a feature on all cell phones?
Did he set it up to notify JUST his friend (not any family member)?

I have something like this on my iPhone but it’s where if 911 is called certain contacts in my phone are alerted.
 
Where are you, Zelig?

"The dancer's mother said her son is her only child left. She said her two daughters died in an accident years ago.

"He really danced because of them," Kathy Williams said. "He loved dance because he said he feels his sisters near him."

The sheriff's office urges anyone with information to call them at 803-576-3000 or contact Crime Stoppers at crimesc.com."

 
Zelig's Facebook page shows that he's had numerous mental health crises that he's been very open about and very recently had a birthday, which can be a major trigger for individuals. He also recently advertised a boot camp for teenagers interested in Broadway ensemble work.

Edit to add: Williams recently returned to SC from NYC and was unable to host his boot camp due to Helene.

Since coming back to town in July, he has done freelance teaching at dance studios in the area, said local performance artist Katie Hilliger Page, who has known Williams since he was in high school.

She described him as a very gracious and helpful person who "wants to show up and ignite light in other people." She said Williams was supposed to hold a dance bootcamp in Columbia in late September but the event got canceled because of Hurricane Helene.

 
Last edited:

While authorities search for the actor, his Broadwaycolleagues—including Hugh Jackman, who worked with Williams on the 2019 concert tour “The Man. The Music. The Show"—are urging anyone with information to contact the Richland County Sheriff's Office.
 
I just did a quick search on crash and sos alerts on iPhones and was surprised to see locations are provided for both. I am curious what his location was?


 
Chandra Cleveland, the PI hired, released a press release today containing some information I hadn't previously seen reported:

MISSING ZELIG WILLIAMS

FAMILY HIRED INV. CHANDRA CLEVELAND OF SHE-PIC GROUP

Tuesday, October 15, 2024: The family of Zelig Williams, a Broadway dancer who has been missing for nearly two weeks, has enlisted the help of Private Investigator Chandra Cleveland of SHE-Private Investigations in their urgent search to find him and bring him home.

Zelig Williams was last seen on October 3 at his residence in Columbia, South Carolina. He is well- known for his performances in Hamilton and M.J: The Musical and had recently returned to his hometown to teach dance classes.

Williams, a devoted believer in God, had also been exploring his faith by visiting various churches in the area and may have joined a men's group. If you have seen Zelig at your church or have had any interaction with him recently, the family is asking you to come forward.

It is unclear where Zelig was headed the morning he disappeared, and the family is eager to speak with anyone who may have seen or spoken with him around that time. Zelig requires medication, and concern for his well-being is growing.

This is an extremely difficult time for the Williams family, and they are pleading for the community's help in finding Zelig and ensuring his safe return. It has now been 13 days since he was last seen. If you have any information, please contact SHE-Private Investigations at 855-218- 7772.

 

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