A body believed to be Montrell Williams, a 2-year-old Bronx boy reported missing in May, was found in the East River near the Whitestone Bridge on Wednesday. The toddler was last known to be in the care of his 20-year-old father, Arius Williams, after a Mother’s Day gathering on May 10.
A body believed to be that of 2-year-old Montrell Williams was found in the East River on Wednesday, about a month after the Bronx toddler was last seen, according to ABC7 New York.
A passerby spotted the body in the water off Ferry Point Park, near the Whitestone Bridge, at about 12:20 p.m., and police were called. The child was wrapped in a blanket. Officials said the remains matched Montrell’s description, and formal identification was pending.
When Montrell was last seen
Montrell had been missing since May 10. That day he was in the care of his father, 20-year-old Arius Williams, who took him to a Mother’s Day gathering. According to sources cited by ABC7, an argument broke out between Arius Williams and his mother, and he left the gathering with the boy.
Later that night, surveillance video reportedly showed Arius Williams throwing a black bag into the Bronx River. What was in the bag was not confirmed.
The mother’s call to police
Montrell’s 17-year-old mother contacted police soon after, worried about her son’s safety. According to sources, she was told police could not intervene because the boy was with his father during a regularly scheduled visit.
The arrest
On Sunday, about a month after Montrell disappeared, the boy’s parents met on the street. Arius Williams allegedly pulled a knife on the mother and told her he had thrown their son off the Bruckner Bridge.
He was taken into custody on Monday. He reportedly refused to tell a family court judge where Montrell was, and at that point he was charged only with custodial interference. The allegations against him have not been proven in court.
Questions about the response
The case has led to questions about how the initial report was handled and whether police could have acted sooner after the mother raised concerns. The investigation is continuing, and the medical examiner is expected to confirm the child’s identity and cause of death.
Source: ABC7 New York
