Skip to main content

Search TrendsNew Ads Appearances Podcasts API

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click “Accept All” to consent, or “Decline non-essential” to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.

Dateline: Missing In America

Dateline: Missing In America

The Day Zelig Vanished

Jul 27, 2026 · 41 min · 16 segments

On October 3, 2024, 28-year-old Broadway performer Zelig Williams disappeared from Columbia, South Carolina. He was last seen by his mother, Kathy Williams, when he left her house around 9:50 that…

On October 3, 2024, 28-year-old Broadway performer Zelig Williams disappeared from Columbia, South Carolina. He was last seen by his mother, Kathy Williams, when he left her house around 9:50 that morning. After he failed to return home, Kathy filed a missing person’s report with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The next night, Zelig’s car was discovered at the Palmetto Trailhead with some of his belongings inside. Despite extensive searches, no trace of Zelig has been found, and the investigation remains active. Dateline’s Josh Mankiewicz speaks with Zelig’s loved ones and Investigator JP Smith of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Zelig Williams is about 5’9” and 175 lbs., with brown eyes. He would be 29 today. Anyone with information regarding his disappearance is asked to contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 803-576-3000 or Midland Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Get more information and see pictures of Zelig Williams here: https://www.nbcnews.com/datelinemissing Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On October 3, 2024, 28-year-old Broadway performer Zelig Williams disappeared from Columbia, South Carolina. He was last seen by his mother, Kathy Williams, when he left her house around 9:50 that…

Top entities: Zelig Williams×82 South Carolina×14 Pace University×2 New York×13 Broadway theatre×17

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: Josh MankiewiczHostJP SmithGuestMioca Corbett JacobsGuestCaroline Lewis JonesGuestKathy WilliamsGuest

Show signals: SuitabilityLimitedBiasNot politicalAudience≈1.1M followers

Early Life & Broadway Rise3:20 – 7:33

Josh MankiewiczHost

3:20

[gentle music] Zelig Williams was born in the Palmetto State, South Carolina.

Josh MankiewiczHost

3:35

He had two older sisters, and was raised by his mother, Kathy Williams.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:40

He was a awesome little boy.

Josh MankiewiczHost

3:42

Zelig's aunt, Christine Barber, saw her nephew blossom.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:46

He was very energetic, loving, caring.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:50

He clung to his mom.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:52

[laughs] He loved his family dearly, his cousins, his grandma.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:57

He just loved everybody.

Josh MankiewiczHost

3:59

[gentle music] Family was an anchor in his life.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:03

So was the church.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:04

Here's his cousin, Mioca Corbett Jacobs.

M

Mioca Corbett JacobsGuest

4:07

He was full of faith, and he was full of belief for his life.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:11

Zelig spoke about that nexus between faith and career on the podcast, A Time to Live with Amanda Jane Cooper.

Z

Zelig WilliamsSoundbite Speaker

4:20

I grew up in the church.

M

Mioca Corbett JacobsGuest

4:21

Mm-hmm.

Z

Zelig WilliamsSoundbite Speaker

4:22

And I grew up having a, a, a...

Z

Zelig WilliamsSoundbite Speaker

4:24

I felt like I had a connection with God.

M

Mioca Corbett JacobsGuest

4:26

Mm-hmm.

Z

Zelig WilliamsSoundbite Speaker

4:26

My sister sang at church, and so I just followed their lead.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:30

Looking back, that was probably the start of something.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:34

I sort of get the feeling he was a performer from very young.

U

UnknownUnknown

4:38

Yes, at a, probably at the age of two or three.

U

UnknownUnknown

4:42

My baby girl used to step, and she'd come home, and she'd step in front of him.

U

UnknownUnknown

4:48

He just sit and look, and he just picked up just like that.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:52

A born dancer.

Zelig WilliamsPerson
99%82 mentions
South CarolinaAdministrative AreaUS state
97%14 mentions
Pace UniversityCollege or UniversityPrivate university in New York
94%2 mentions
New YorkCityCity in New York State
92%13 mentions
Broadway theatreEntity
90%17 mentions
Hugh JackmanPersonAustralian actor and singer
88%3 mentions
Stephen J. DubnerPersonAmerican author and journalist
85%13 mentions
HamiltonBookMusical by Lin-Manuel Miranda
83%3 mentions
FreakonomicsBookBook by Stephen J. Dubner and Steven Levitt
81%13 mentions
ColumbiaCityCity in South Carolina
78%4 mentions
Hurricane HeleneEvent2024 tropical cyclone
76%5 mentions
MJ: The MusicalBookMusical by Lynn Nottage
74%6 mentions
Josh MankiewiczPersonAmerican journalist
72%5 mentions
InstagramSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
69%7 mentions
RoCompanyHealth company
67%8 mentions
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
65%9 mentions
Food and Drug AdministrationGovernment OrganizationFederal agency
63%4 mentions
GLP-1 receptor agonistEntityMedication
60%7 mentions
Lemonade, Inc.CompanyInsurance company company
58%5 mentions
NBCCompanyTelevision broadcasting company
56%3 mentions
Dateline NBCTV SeriesAmerican television show
53%6 mentions
NBC NewsCompanyBroadcasting television network
51%3 mentions
Freakonomics RadioBroadcast Service
49%4 mentions
Digital footprintEntity
47%1 mention
Richland CountyAdministrative AreaUS county in South Carolina
44%3 mentions
PetEntity
42%3 mentions
Leon LottPersonPolice officer
40%3 mentions
AdsWizz, Inc.CompanyCompany
38%1 mention
Brian DrewPersonTelevision producer
35%2 mentions
Bradley DavisPersonTV producer
33%2 mentions
Liz ColePersonExecutive producer
30%2 mentions
Paul RyanPersonExecutive television producer
30%2 mentions
Amanda Jane CooperPersonAmerican actress and singer
26%2 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
24%1 mention
IrmoCityTown in South Carolina
22%1 mention
Marlon JacksonPersonAmerican singer and dancer
19%1 mention
BibleBookReligious text
17%1 mention
TikTokSoftware ApplicationWebsite
15%2 mentions
All-terrain vehicleEntity
13%1 mention
Michael JacksonPersonAmerican singer-songwriter and dancer
10%1 mention
Zoom CommunicationsCompanyCompany
8%1 mention
Dum spiro speroEntity
6%1 mention
LatinEntitySpoken language
3%1 mention
PeacockCompanyTelevision network
1%1 mention

Performing ArtsEntertainment
Mental Health ChallengesHealth > Mental Health
Mental HealthHealth
Mother-Son RelationshipsFamily > Family Dynamics > Parenting
FaithReligion
Zelig WilliamsEntertainment > Performing Arts > Dance > Broadway
InvestigationCrime > Missing Persons
DanceEntertainment > Performing Arts
Family DynamicsFamily
Missing PersonsCrime
MedicationHealth > Mental Health > Mental Health Challenges
ParentingFamily > Family Dynamics
BroadwayEntertainment > Performing Arts > Dance
Law EnforcementCrime > Missing Persons > Investigation
Church CommunityReligion > Faith
Health
Religion
Entertainment
Crime
Family
Cathy WilliamsFamily > Family Dynamics > Parenting > Mother-Son Relationships
Zelig's JourneyHealth > Mental Health > Mental Health Challenges > Medication
Zelig Williams CaseCrime > Missing Persons > Investigation > Law Enforcement
SpiritualityReligion > Faith > Church Community
Zelig's Faith JourneyReligion > Faith > Church Community > Spirituality

Early Life & Broadway Rise3:20 – 7:33

Josh MankiewiczHost

3:20

[gentle music] Zelig Williams was born in the Palmetto State, South Carolina.

Josh MankiewiczHost

3:35

He had two older sisters, and was raised by his mother, Kathy Williams.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:40

He was a awesome little boy.

Josh MankiewiczHost

3:42

Zelig's aunt, Christine Barber, saw her nephew blossom.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:46

He was very energetic, loving, caring.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:50

He clung to his mom.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:52

[laughs] He loved his family dearly, his cousins, his grandma.

U

UnknownUnknown

3:57

He just loved everybody.

Josh MankiewiczHost

3:59

[gentle music] Family was an anchor in his life.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:03

So was the church.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:04

Here's his cousin, Mioca Corbett Jacobs.

M

Mioca Corbett JacobsGuest

4:07

He was full of faith, and he was full of belief for his life.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:11

Zelig spoke about that nexus between faith and career on the podcast, A Time to Live with Amanda Jane Cooper.

Z

Zelig WilliamsSoundbite Speaker

4:20

I grew up in the church.

M

Mioca Corbett JacobsGuest

4:21

Mm-hmm.

Z

Zelig WilliamsSoundbite Speaker

4:22

And I grew up having a, a, a...

Z

Zelig WilliamsSoundbite Speaker

4:24

I felt like I had a connection with God.

M

Mioca Corbett JacobsGuest

4:26

Mm-hmm.

Z

Zelig WilliamsSoundbite Speaker

4:26

My sister sang at church, and so I just followed their lead.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:30

Looking back, that was probably the start of something.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:34

I sort of get the feeling he was a performer from very young.

U

UnknownUnknown

4:38

Yes, at a, probably at the age of two or three.

U

UnknownUnknown

4:42

My baby girl used to step, and she'd come home, and she'd step in front of him.

U

UnknownUnknown

4:48

He just sit and look, and he just picked up just like that.

Josh MankiewiczHost

4:52

A born dancer.

Sign up to see more

The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode

Create an account Already have an account? Log in

No account is needed to search Radar.