Police in New York City just found the body of a child in the East River on Wednesday, June 12, 2025.
They believe it is 2-year-old Montrell Williams, who had been missing for over a month, as
reported by CBS News.
Montrell was last seen on May 10, 2025 with his father in Hunts Point, Bronx.
For weeks, his family and the NYPD desperately searched for him, and even posted missing child flyers around his neighborhood.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, police focused their search this week on the Bronx River, after the found evidence that Montrell might be there.
On Wednesday afternoon, after a three day search, a child’s body was pulled from the water near Ferry Point Park.
While official identification is pending, sources say it is likely Montrell.
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| Arius Williams and his son Montrell |
According to police, surveillance footage shows the father, Arius Williams, allegedly throwing the child to his death at 11:57 p.m. on May 10, 2025.
The surveillance footage also captured Williams’ actions before and after the alleged crime.
Moments later, Williams was seen throwing the child over the bridge and then walking past a nearby gas station without the child.
Montrell’s family is devastated by this heartbreaking news.
His step-grandfather, Leroy Burton, told reporters: "It's hurtful, it's real hurtful. And I know I'm going to be coming here every day."
His aunt, Alicia Williams, added: "We haven't been able to get any rest. My sister hasn't been able to get no rest. It's really breaking my heart. It's tore this whole family up."
Montrell’s 20-year-old father was initially arrested on custodial interference charges, but after the discovery of the video, his charges were upgraded.
Williams is now facing two counts on each charge of second-degree murder and manslaughter because the victim is under the age of 11.
According to the complaint, the child was meant to be returned to his mother on May 11 after a visit with his father.
When he wasn’t brought back, she reached out to police and turned to family court for assistance.
Williams had limited contact with family members and consistently refused to disclose the child’s location.
As a result, on May 28, the court issued an order requiring him to present the child..
Then, on June 8, after weeks of unsuccessful attempts to contact him, the child’s mother unexpectedly ran into Williams on the street.
She confronted him and demanded urgent answers about their child’s whereabouts.
At first, he refused to answer but later took her to St. Mary’s Park, where he allegedly pulled out a knife, threatened her, and confessed to throwing the child into the river.
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| Arius Williams |
As the investigation continues, the NYPD is also reviewing how the case was initially handled.
"We are looking into the initial reports to the police department of the missing child and how those were handled. The NYPD takes any case of a missing person very seriously," said Commissioner Tisch.
Authorities are awaiting official identification of the body and the autopsy results.
Meanwhile, the family is heartbroken and confused by the tragic incident.
They shared that the child’s father had recently shown signs of mental health struggles.
“What hurts me the most is that the baby kept calling out, ‘Daddy, daddy, daddy,’” said Alicia Williams, the suspect’s aunt. “He trusted him—and he took his life.”
Mayor Eric Adams assured the public that the city is doing everything possible to uncover the truth.
"We are not leaving any stone unturned and are still unraveling exactly what happened," he said.
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