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A dance star with Broadway experience is missing from his home in Columbia, South Carolina – and friends and family are putting the word out in the hopes someone will see him and alert authorities as to his whereabouts. A car belonging to Zelig Williams – missing nearly 72 hours – was found about a mile from the Congaree National Park with his belongings in it, but no one has seen the 28-year-old dancer since last Thursday (October 3, 2024). Friends and family members are concerned because his disappearance is out of the blue – and out of character for him. They are also concerned because he has a need for medication.
Williams has appeared in Hamilton and MJ the Musical and toured with Hugh Jackman. He recently moved home to Columbia, S.C. and was baptized.
Those who know him described Williams as a social being who communicates often with friends and family.
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“He loves his friends and family and stays in touch often,” said Susan Hancock, who came to know Williams as a student in her ballet class. “He’s such a talented kid, such a sweet sweet person, and a beautiful choreographer.”
Williams was last seen leaving his home in the 400 block of Longview Road – in the Lower Richland community – Thursday morning.
According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), Williams’ car was found in a hiking area near the national park. A park spokesperson clarified the location as being a parking lot of the Wateree Passage of the Palmetto Trail at US 601 and Bluff Road – approximately 23-26 driving miles from Williams’ home.
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It us unclear what Williams was doing in that area. The remote location is nowhere near any of his typical haunts – and friends believe it is unlikely that Williams spontaneously took up hiking.
Williams has been very open on his social media about addressing mental health struggles from a Biblical perspective. Though, so far it is unknown whether the medication his family speaks of is in any way related.
Performing artists from Williams’ home dance studio – The Southern Strutt – plan to gather and search for him in the area where his vehicle was found on Sunday afternoon.
Anyone with information related to Williams’ disappearance – or his whereabouts – is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Callie Lyons is a relentless investigative journalist, researcher, and author known for exposing hard truths with heart and precision. As a journalist for FITSNews, she dives into high-profile and murky cases—like that of Mica Francis Miller— with fearless resolve and a sharp eye for detail, whether it’s tracking white-collar crime, uncovering religious abuse, or examining the often-bizarre behavior of those who believe they’re above the law.
Callie made waves with her groundbreaking 2007 book Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal, the first to reveal the dangers of forever chemicals, a story that helped inspire the film Dark Waters and influenced global scientific dialogue. Her work has appeared in numerous documentaries, including Toxic Soup, National Geographic’s Parched: Toxic Waters, and more recently Citizen Sleuth, which examines the complexities of true crime podcasting.
Whether she’s navigating environmental disasters or the darker corners of society, Lyons operates with one guiding belief: “Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
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1 comment
Very sad. I hope he is found safe.