Father charged with murder in 2-year-old NYC boy's disappearance
Arius Williams, the father of missing New York City toddler Montrell Williams, has been charged with murder in connection to the boy's death, the NYPD confirmed on June 13.
Investigators recovered a body from a Bronx river in the search for the toddler, NYPD said. The medical examiner's office confirmed the body was identified as Montrell Williams.
On June 11, Arius Williams, 20, was charged with second degree murder and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to records from the Department of Correction and Bronx Criminal Court.
Arius Williams' public defender did not respond to Paste BN's request for comment.
2-year-old was last seen over a month before missing persons alert
The NYPD issued a missing persons alert for Montrell Williams on June 9.
The alert said he was last seen on Hunts Point Ave in the Bronx on May 10 at around 10 p.m. local time wearing a white shirt and diapers.
Local reports say that the child went missing after a custodial visit with his father, according to NBC New York, CBS New York and ABC 7.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said on June 10 that preliminary information indicated that Montrell Williams' family reported concerns about his whereabouts to police on May 11.
There may have been "a visual of the child" between the time he was last seen and when police issued the missing persons alert, Adams said. He also said both the actions of the father and the delay in police response are under investigation.
Officials ID body pulled from river
During their search for Montrell Williams, investigators pulled a body from a river at Ferry Point Park in the Bronx around noon local time on June 11, NYPD told Paste BN.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to Paste BN on June 16 that the body was identified as Montrell Williams.
The Office of the Bronx District Attorney on June 16 denied Paste BN's request for records related to Arius Williams' arrest, citing ongoing criminal proceedings.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for Paste BN. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.