CRIME & COURTS

Search Continues For Missing South Carolina Dancer

News of the performer’s disappearance is drawing national attention…

Nearly a week after 28-year-old Zelig Williams was last seen leaving his home in Columbia, South Carolina, investigators with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) and officers of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) are continuing their search for the missing Broadway dancer.

“RCSD (is) investigating this case as a missing person case that could involve foul play,” a statement for sheriff Leon Lott noted. “We are continuing to investigate all the information we gather. Right now, we ask the public to keep an eye out for Zelig and if anyone has any information regarding his disappearance to call RCSD.”

The main line for RCSD is 803-576-3000.

Williams has been missing since last Thursday (October 3, 2024). His disappearance was reported on October 4 – the same day investigators located his vehicle in a parking lot for the Palmetto Trail – about a mile away from the Congaree National Park. Williams belongings were found inside the vehicle.

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RELATED | SOUTH CAROLINA DANCE STAR MISSING, ABANDONED VEHICLE FOUND NEAR CONGRAEE

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Shortly after he left home on Thursday, Williams’ family members say they received an alert that he had been involved in a car crash. When he failed to return home, their concerns intensified. This alert appears to be an error, but the sheriff’s office is investigating. 

The dancer who grew up and began to learn his art in the Palmetto State has been on tour for the past seven years as a member of the cast of Hamilton and MJ the Musical. He also toured with Hugh Jackman. Williams recently moved back home and began making plans to collaborate with dance studios in the area.   

Family members say he is in need of medication – but so far no details have been released about the nature of this medication. 

News of the beloved performer’s disappearance is drawing national attention with Inside Edition and People magazine joining the ranks of those helping to spread the word with their coverage.

Count on this media outlet to keep our audience up to speed on the latest developments in the case…

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Callie Lyons (provided)

Callie Lyons is a journalist, researcher and author. Her 2007 book ‘Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal’ was the first to cover forever chemicals and their impact on communities – a story later told in the movie ‘Dark Waters.’ Her investigative work has been featured in media outlets, publications, and documentaries all over the world. Lyons also appears in ‘Citizen Sleuth’ – a 2023 documentary exploring the genre of true crime.

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2 comments

Missing Persons October 10, 2024 at 2:31 pm

I hope that Mr Williams is found alive and well. That said, RCSD does not seem to be real strong on putting effort into finding missing persons.

Peter Sean Harley went missing a year ago, on October 11, 2023. He was in Alvin S Glenn Detention Center for a minor crime. His mother went to ASGDC with money to bond him out. She was told that he was at the hospital for treatment after being assaulted by another detainee at ASGDC. She paid his bond and apparently he was released from the hospital by jail personnel. As far as I can determine, Mr Harley was never seen again. At least media never reported it if he was. I have found little to no evidence that RCSD was making a sincere effort to find Mr Harley or find out what became of him.

On December 16, 2023, Jason Murph 42, and his daughter Michelle 6, went missing while on the phone with Jason’s estranged wife and Michelle’s mother. Jason’s wife was under the impression that the two may have been involved in a vehicle accident but lost contact with them.
I believe that was a Saturday evening. The next day, there was rain and it was chilly. As I understand it, RCSD was considered the lead agency for the missing persons case because Richland County was the last place they were known to have been physically seen, even though the estranged wife thought they were in Orangeburg County when they went missing. Monday, the 18th, it was supposed to be cold that night. Someone I know inquired of two RCSD deputies regarding the progress in searching for the man and his child. Neither had heard of it or knew anything about it. As it turned out, later that day, the man’s truck was located near Orangeburg, burned completely up, with him and his daughter found about a hundred yards away, supposedly dead of hypothermia. One story I read indicated that the truck apparently caught fire after it slid onto grass and the man tried putting out the fire by throwing dirt on it. What doesn’t make sense, is how a grown man and a child died of hypothermia within 100 yards of their truck and did not get to a nearby road to summon help. Why the lead agency did not work on getting GPS or “ping” info on Mr Murph’s cell phone the night they disappeared, and given the unusual circumstances of that case, is perplexing and disappointing.

My worst nightmare would be to have a loved one or friend go missing in Richland County, given the apparent lack of importance they assign to missing persons cases.

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Anonymous October 14, 2024 at 8:13 am

please keep updating this story. many people are missing this man

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