Father Indicted In Murder Of 2-Year-Old Son Thrown Into Bronx River, DA Says

NEW YORK CITY — A 20-year-old father has been indicted on charges in connection with the death of his 2-year-old son, who was thrown into the Bronx River last month, prosecutors said.

Arius Williams has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and manslaughter. He is being held without bail.

The body believed to be 2-year-old Montrell Williams was found in the East River on June 11, Patch previously reported. The boy was last seen in Hunts Point on May 10.

The NYPD Harbor Unit found the body of 2-year-old Montrell Williams off Ferry Point near the Whitestone Bridge, sources told FOX 5 NY and NBC New York.

“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 Bronx River, causing his death. 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," Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said in a statement.

The boy's 17-year-old mother initially called police after she worried about her son's whereabouts. According to reports, police took a domestic report and the case was not forwarded to detectives.

On June 8, the boy's mother allegedly confronted the 20-year-old father about the child's whereabouts and called police when he claimed he threw their son into the Bronx River and pulled a knife on her.

The boy's mother and grandmother have said they plan to file a notice of claim against the NYPD and the city over the incident, claiming police did not properly investigate the missing person report.