COLUMBIA, S.C. — Family and friends of missing Broadway dancer Zelig Williams are making a desperate plea to the public for help to find him.
They joined Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott for an emotional news conference Wednesday morning where they discussed how much he means to them and their urgent call to find out what happened to him.
"I just want Zelig to come home," his mother, Kathy McLaughlin-Williams, said while in tears. "He's all I've got. He's all I've got." She fell into the arms of a family member after speaking briefly at the news conference.
Williams, 28, was last seen by his family at his home on Longwood Road near Columbia on October 3. According to investigators, Williams was driving in the area of the Congaree State Park. His vehicle later was found in a parking lot for the Wateree Passage off the Palmetto Trail, which is near the park.
There's added concern from his family and law enforcement because Williams does not have his required medication. His family said they believe he stopped taking the medicine and that makes him vulnerable and could put him in a trance-like state.
Zelig's cousin, Mieoki Corbett-Jones, said Williams and his mother already went through a terrible tragedy before. Kathy's two other children, both daughters, died in a car accident back in 2004.
"So Zelig was her remaining child, he is her remaining child," Jones said. "And that is why it's extremely difficult for her to be seen or to speak because as you can understand, it's a mother, a mother's who's having some serious pain in her heart, missing her son in this moment."
Jones said Zelig's love of dance began with his sisters. "Zelig danced for his sisters, that's how he began in that space, that's how it all started. "That's why it's so special when you see him perform because he's dancing with his sisters in his heart."
Caroline Lewis-Jones works at a dance studio as a teacher and has known Zelig since he was 11-years-old. Zelig eventually went on to perform on Broadway in "Hamilton" and "MJ: The Musical" and has worked with Broadway star and Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman.
"He truly is the most talented individual I've ever met in my entire life, he's an angel when he sings," Jones said of Zelig. "He's just the epitome of a friend and a talent and a creative. So please keep sharing. Please keep not just liking, please share and just get his face everywhere you can."
Sheriff Lott said he's asking anyone who may know something to come forward, adding that someone may have the key to the puzzle to give the family the information they need.
"We have used every means of manpower and technology that's available," Lott said. "We've used them, we've used them in the past since this first started and we continue to use them. And we're gonna continue to search until we find him."
People with information can call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward if that information leads to an arrest or conviction.