Grandmother of 2-year-old Montrell Williams, who drowned in the Bronx River, claims NYPD mishandled the emergency response.
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Grandmother of 2-year-old Montrell Williams, who drowned in the Bronx River, claims NYPD mishandled the emergency response.

The tragic case of Montrell Williams, a two-year-old boy who was allegedly murdered by his father, Arius Williams, has left family members grappling with profound grief and unanswered questions. Octavia Roane, the boy’s maternal grandmother, has expressed intense anger not only toward Arius Williams but also directed at the New York Police Department (NYPD) for its perceived lack of urgency in responding to the reported disappearance of her grandson.

Montrell Williams, described affectionately by Roane as a “mama’s boy” who loved to play, was last seen on May 10, 2025. According to family accounts, Arius Williams, 20, took Montrell for an approved overnight visit and left a Mother’s Day celebration following a dispute. Family members reported that when Arius returned to a cousin’s home later that evening, he did not have Montrell with him, raising immediate concerns among the child’s family.

Despite repeated calls for assistance, Roane and Montrell’s mother received responses from police that downplayed the urgency of their situation, asserting that since the child was with his father on a sanctioned visit, there was little they could do. Following a month of anguish and searching, police began their search for Montrell in the Bronx River after Arius Williams allegedly confessed to the boy’s mother, during a confrontation, that he had thrown Montrell into the water. His arrest soon followed, along with an investigation sparked by a disturbing allegation of violence against the child’s mother.

On June 12, investigators recovered Montrell’s body from the East River, several miles from the area where Williams was reportedly seen disposing of something from an overpass shortly after leaving the family gathering. The discovery confirmed the family’s worst fears, with officials stating that Montrell was still alive at the time he was allegedly thrown into the river.

Williams has been charged with murder and is being held without bail on Rikers Island. NYPD officials have acknowledged the gravity of this incident, with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch indicating an internal review to assess the department’s response to the family’s initial report of Montrell’s disappearance.

Roane has stated that the entire process, from the moment Montrell was reported missing to the eventual recovery of his body, is a grim example of systemic failures that must be addressed. She emphasized the need for a more responsive and sensitive approach within law enforcement when dealing with reports of missing children, expressing hope that changes would be initiated to prevent future tragedies.

As the family struggles to cope with their loss, Roane highlighted the lasting impact this situation has had, particularly on Montrell’s mother, who is soon to graduate high school without her son. With the community in mourning, the case has called into question the processes in place for handling child welfare and safety, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in how such cases are treated.

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