Missing Since

10/3/2024

Missing From

Columbia, South Carolina 29209

Classification

Missing

Sex

Male

Race

Black / African American

Age at time of disappearance

28 Years

Current Age

28 years old (09/10/1996)

Height and Weight

6'0, 150 lbs

Clothing/Jewelry Description at the time of disappearance

No details provided

Medical Conditions

Schizophrenia, he may have stopped taking prescribed medication, potentially causing erratic behavior.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Zelig is a Black / African American male with short brown hair, and brown eyes.

Zelig Malik Williams, 28, was last seen on the morning of October 3, 2024, leaving his mother’s house on Longwood Road in Columbia, South Carolina. Not long after, an emergency SOS alert was triggered from his iPhone and sent to a friend in New York. It made it seem like there had been a crash, but when the family tried to find the scene, there was no accident. The next day, his vehicle—a burgundy 2018 Ford Escape—was found abandoned at Congaree National Park near the Palmetto Trail, where Bluff Road meets McCords Ferry. The car was locked and undamaged. Zelig hasn’t been seen or heard from since.

Zelig lives with schizophrenia and may have stopped taking his medication before he went missing, which could affect his behavior and decision-making. His family immediately filed a missing persons report and began searching. Local law enforcement, including Richland County Sheriff’s Office, led searches of the surrounding woods, trails, and waterways with helicopters, dogs, and drones, but found no signs of him. His phone was never recovered. The family also hired a private investigator, hoping that someone—maybe someone from the church communities Zelig had recently been visiting—might have seen him.

What makes this especially hard is that Zelig isn’t just someone who vanished—he’s someone who deeply impacted every space he walked into. A professional dancer, Zelig starred in the original cast of MJ the Musical on Broadway as Marlon Jackson and previously toured with Hamilton. He danced with Hugh Jackman in The Man. The Music. The Show. and was known not only for his talent but his kindness and humility. After his time on stage, Zelig returned home to teach and mentor young dancers at Southern Strutt, where his journey began.

Zelig is incredibly loved. His friends, students, and former castmates have rallied online, and his family continues to search. He is 6 feet tall, about 150 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes. If you have any information about where Zelig might be, please contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Department or reach out through any of the channels listed on his page. His story deserves to be seen, shared, and solved.