Zachary Malinowski was playing basketball in Aynor with friends on Sunday, August 25, 2013. After playing ball, he dropped off one of his friends at a residence on Murray Johnson Road in Conway, South Carolina. The other friend states that he and Malinowski then went to a woman's residence on 7th Avenue in Aynor, South Carolina. They both stayed at that residence until approximately 11:30 p.m. The friend states that Malinowski left in Malinowski's car, a 1996 dark purple/burgundy Chevy Beretta to get something to eat and go home. He hasn’t been seen since. The last phone contact was approximately 12:15AM on 08/26/13.

Horry County police later found Malinowski's car in the woods off of Valley Forge Road near Aynor. The car was completely burned and there was no sign of Malinowski. (Information retrieved from NamUs.gov)