Unsolved Mysteries Online - Missing: Le-Zhan Williams 2001-2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MISSING LE-ZHAN WILLIAMS On May 17, 1996, Le-Zhan Williams (above), the baby of rapper Lathan Williams, was kidnapped. Two teenage girls are wanted for questioning in the case. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As seen on Unsolved Mysteries on November 22, 1996. SYNOPSIS: In the spring of 1996, things were going well for Lathan Williams. Williams, known to his fans as "Young Lay," a rising star in the rap music world, had recently signed a recording deal. His new video was about to be released and his girlfriend had just given birth to their first child, a boy named Le-Zhan. Lathan's girlfriend, 17-year-old Daphne Boyden, lived with her grandmother in Vallejo, California. Daphne was working hard to finish high school while caring for baby Le-Zhan. On May 17, 1996, Daphne's grandmother, Riva Lee Boyden, was getting ready to go to her weekly bingo game when the doorbell rang. Two young girls were at the door, asking for Daphne. Daphne had been getting a lot of visitors. She was the mother of a local rap star's baby and everyone seemed to want to see Lathan's son. Although Riva Lee didn't recognize the two girls, Daphne obviously knew them, and invited the girls in. Everything seemed fine. But an hour later, Riva Lee was rushing home from her bingo game, having learned from neighbors that her house was on fire. She had no idea whether Daphne and Le-Zhan were still inside. When she arrived, Riva learned that her granddaughter, Daphne, had been murdered and the house torched to cover up the crime. Also, Baby Le-Zhan was missing, apparently kidnapped. For Lathan Williams, the shock was devastating. He couldn't believe they were both gone. Daphne's death outraged the community. Hundreds turned out for a march memorializing the young woman and urging Le-Zhan's safe return. The obvious suspects were the two girls who had visited Daphne the evening of her murder. They were first seen just before they arrived at the house by a neighbor. The witness claims to have seen the two girls carrying a black tote bag from which one of the girls pulled out what appeared to be a rope. Another witness allegedly noticed the girls leaving the Boyden house just before the fire broke out. One girl seemed to have been concealing something under her jacket. Several blocks later, the two were seen again. Those witnesses also believe that one of the girls may have been hiding something. If the girls did indeed murder Daphne and kidnap baby Le-Zhan, the question remains why? Was it jealousy of Daphne or for the love of Lathan? Perhaps there was another motive. Ten months earlier, Lathan himself had been a target, the victim of an attempted holdup while sitting in his car. As he and his friend attempted to escape, the robber shot through the rear window of the vehicle. One bullet hit Lathan, piercing his brain. When he recovered, he testified against the shooter. Although authorities do not discount the murder of Daphne and kidnapping of baby Le-Zhan as retaliation, Lathan Williams is convinced the two attacks are not connected. But whatever the motive, police have no doubt that whoever killed Daphne, also kidnapped baby Le-Zhan. At this point, authorities say the two girls are not suspects. They are wanted only for questioning. CLUES: Both girls are black females in their late teens or early 20's. One is 5'4, heavy set and kept her face covered. The other is 5'6 and thin. She wore her hair straight and cut on an angle. (See sketches of the girls.) If you have any information about this case, please contact the Vallejo, California, Police Department, or call the Unsolved Mysteries' phone center at 1-800-876-5353. Unsolved Mysteries Online main page © 2001-2002, Todd Fuller unsolved@sitcomsonline.com