Family of missing Broadway star who vanished near South Carolina hiking trail make chilling claim

A South Carolina-based Broadway performer mysteriously disappeared earlier this month sending his distraught family into intense speculation. 

The family of Zelig Williams, who went missing on October 3 near a popular hiking trail, has since made a chilling claim regarding the 28-year-olds curious disappearance as they suspect foul play was involved.  

He didnt wander off, Williams’ cousin Mieoki Corbett-Jacobs said, adding, this is definitely a missing persons [case] with suspected foul play. 

The family first became fearful after an SOS notification was sent to three of Williams friends just minutes after he left his mothers Columbia home.

The family of Zelig Williams (pictured), who went missing on October 3 near a popular hiking trail, has since claimed there was foul play involved in the 28-year-olds disappearance

The day after his disappearance the Richland County Sheriff’s Department located his vehicle more than 20 miles away from his home in a parking lot for the Palmetto Trail (pictured)

Williams, who has previously performed in Hamilton: An American Musical and MJ the Musical, was last seen around 9:50 am before his friends received the concerning SOS ping from his cell phone at 10:10 am.  

That is not a lot of time before leaving the house, Corbett-Jacobs said of his cousins inexplicable disappearance.

Worried after the Broadway star failed to return home that night his family filed a missing persons report.

The day after his disappearance the Richland County Sheriff’s Department located his vehicle more than 20 miles away from his home in a parking lot for the Palmetto Trail.

Williams had only been in Columbia for only a few months, leaving Corbett-Jacobs and the Williams family to believe it’s unlikely he would have known the location of the lot or trailhead.

[The lot] where the car was parked had only been there a little over a year, we weren’t even familiar with the space, Corbett-Jacobs said, adding to the familys suspicions. 

Williams, who has performed in Hamilton: An American Musical and MJ the Musical, was last seen around 9:50am before his friends received an SOS ping from his phone at 10:10am

Williams had been in Columbia for only a few months, leaving Corbett-Jacobs and the Williams family to believe it’s unlikely he would have known the location of the lot or trailhead

Corbett-Jacobs also said the car deputies located did not show signs of a crash that could trigger the SOS message.

Williams aunt, Michelle Mclaughlin-Barber, tacked onto the pre-existing suspicions adding that Williams car was found with the key inside, as well as a profile photo of him that hed use for show auditions, the Post and Courier reported.

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

Deputies from the Richland County Sheriffs Department and family members have since been trying to find the South Carolina native, who returned home in July from New York City to teach at local dance studios.

The State Department of Natural Resources crews flew helicopters over the Congaree River, and waterway searches by boat have also been taking place.  

All-terrain vehicles, drones and dogs have also been used in the search.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott told WIS: Weve searched on foot in the air of various locations.

Deputies from the Richland County Sheriffs Department and family members have since been trying to find the South Carolina native, who returned home in July from New York City to teach at local dance studios

The family has since hired a private investigator to help in locating the missing performer and the sheriff’s department is investigating the potential of foul play, CNN reports

Other investigative techniques that we will use involving cell phones and some other things that I dont want to discuss at this point.

Authorities further noted that Williams is in need of prescribed medication and had not taken any before his disappearance.

We cant describe it, its devastation. Its devastation for someone who is so close to his family to just disappear like that…theres no way to describe it, Corbett-Jacobs said.

The family has since hired a private investigator to help in locating the missing performer and the sheriff’s department is investigating the potential of foul play and are following up on all leads and all information in the case, CNN reports.