Bronx, NY — A Bronx man has been indicted for murder after allegedly throwing his 2-year-old son off an overpass into the East River, authorities announced Thursday.
Arius Williams, 20, faces charges of murder, manslaughter, and other related offenses in connection with the death of his son, Montrell Williams. He pleaded not guilty and is currently being held without bail.
According to prosecutors, surveillance video captured the harrowing moment on May 10 when Williams allegedly tossed the toddler off the Bruckner Expressway overpass. NYPD divers later recovered Montrell’s body nearly a month later in the East River, near the Whitestone Bridge.
“Montrell was seen alive and standing near his father moments before the defendant allegedly picked the two-year-old up and threw him into the East River, causing his death,” Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said. “The defendant would not tell the boy’s mother and grandmother where Montrell was, and the child’s body was not found until a month later, causing agony to the family.”
The incident began on May 10, when Williams took Montrell from his mother’s home during a Mother’s Day gathering. The child was reportedly wearing only a diaper and a shirt. Less than an hour later, Williams appeared at another relative’s home without the boy. When questioned about Montrell’s whereabouts, Williams allegedly refused to answer and fled.
Montrell was on a court-approved custodial visit that weekend and was expected to return to his mother, 17-year-old Sierra Carroll, on May 11. Carroll reported her son missing two days later in family court, but a warrant to produce the child wasn’t issued until May 28.
On June 8, Carroll encountered Williams on the street and demanded to know where her son was. Authorities say Williams led her to a park, pulled a knife on her, and confessed to throwing Montrell into the river.
Williams was arrested for custodial interference but allegedly refused to cooperate with investigators regarding the child’s disappearance.
Montrell’s grandmother told PIX11 News that she had warned police after the boy vanished, but was initially dismissed because Williams was the child’s father.
“My son kidnapped my grandchild out of my house,” she told the station.
Williams is due back in court on October 9.
