A young man from our neighborhood is still missing.  The family of Alonzo Williams is still searching for their loved one.  He has been missing since November 22, 2011 when he left his home on the northwest corner of Arnett and Normandy at 5:30 AM.  If you or anyone you know has any information about Alonzo please contact 585-406-8650 or 585-423-9300.  If you know of any security cameras in the area that might have captured images of passers-by in the neighborhood the morning of the 22nd, please let us know.  

In an effort to help other families in the area that have suffered the disappearance of a loved one, the family and friends of Alonzo are organizing a Missing Persons Awareness Day at the Wilson Foundation Academy at 200 Genesee St, from 11am to 3pm, on Saturday January 28, 2012.  Representatives from reporting agencies, support groups and family members of other missing persons will be there to exchange information and ideas for making searches for lost ones more effective.

What follows is Alonzo's story, as told by his family.  For many parents of young adults who made the often troubled passage to adulthood,  this story will strike some familiar chords.

Alonzo “L” Williams
Missing The “Missing”
Since November 22, 2011

On the morning of Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at approx. 5:30am Alonzo "L" Williams walked away from his home in the City of Rochester, New York 19th Ward area and has not been seen by his family since. His mother was awakened by the home’s alarm system and went about the house to check on her family. In doing so, she noticed that Alonzo was not there (as he was the night before) but his dog "Oreo" was standing in the doorway looking puzzled.

The weeks leading up to his disappearance, Alonzo displayed a sense of disinterest in many things around him.  Within the past 9 months the family began to notice changes in Alonzo's mood and attitude towards everyday life. He began to lose his will to partake in his normal daily activities. About a week and a half prior to his disappearance, the family sought help and took him to a nearby hospital. He was evaluated by physicians who determined that he was of no risk to himself or others and he was released that same day.

"The Saturday evening before he became missing," his mother, Carla Wims states, "when he came home after visiting with a friend; I opened the door for him because I was happy to see him.  He looked like his spirits were down, so I asked him what was wrong."  Carla went on to explain that she and her son shared a brief discussion about how he felt before he went to his room to change his clothes for bed.

The following day, that Sunday morning, "He went out to walk his dog," says mom, "and when he came home he said to me “Mom I need help! ”"  She’d asked him if he wanted to go back to the hospital and he said, ”Yes.” As they were getting ready to go he’d changed his mind and requested to go to church instead and he wanted to go “now”.  She made a call to her sister, Lisa Alexander, who’d at that time spoken to "L" and explained that church service, would soon be ending but she’d figure something out. She called their pastor who came out to the home to speak with him.  To Pastor Mattie Taylor, the conversation ended on a positive note stating that they’d made plans for lunch that coming Wednesday.

Though his spirits were still a bit low, the following day appeared to be a normal Monday for "L".  Tuesday morning however, it was like he vanished into thin air. Given the circumstances, Carla immediately contacted the Rochester Police Department to file a missing persons report. Feeling the mother’s sense of urgency, RPD did not hesitate to process the report.

Alonzo attended Benjamin Franklin High School on the City of Rochester’s north side of town. He studied in the Bio Science program where he graduated with the class of 2009. During the spring semester of 2010, he attended Monroe Community College and was a part-time employee of Tops Friendly Market on Lake Avenue.

Alonzo is a traditional young man who’s never been in any trouble and simply enjoys the company of a few friends. His love and obsession for his parents, his 3 sisters and his family is shared with his passion for basketball. Over the past several months his sisters, aunts and cousins assisted his mom in understanding the core of Alonzo’s dismay but were to a degree unsuccessful with finding a solution for him. “Having tried all that you could think of; what do you do next?” states Lisa Alexander, aunt to Alonzo, “I just want my nephew back home with us!”

It is the family’s fear, that in Alonzo's state, he may be easily placed in harm’s way. We will continue in every effort to bring him home and work in every aspect possible until we do so!
The SWAN (Southwest Area Neighborhood) Center, Jesus Christ The Church and Location19 (The Voice of the SW Quadrant-www.location19.org) has been working very closely with the family in their continued efforts to bring Alonzo Williams home soon and safely. Weekly "Family/Community" meetings are held at the SWAN Center, 275 Samuel McCree Way, Rochester, NY 14611 on Tuesday evenings at 6:15pm where updates on the case and implemented ideas are discussed. The community is encouraged to attend!

If you have any information leading to his whereabouts please contact: 585-406-8650 or 585-423-9300