June 11, 2025 Bronx, NY Navigating the complex and often heartbreaking world of missing persons cases is a challenge that has defined much of my three decades in journalism. Few cases, however, possess the chilling layers now unfolding in the disappearance of two-year-old Montrell Williams. What began as a routine custodial visit has spiraled into a disturbing narrative involving alleged threats, surveillance footage, and a desperate search for answers in the murky waters of the Bronx River.

Missing Toddler Montrell Williams: A Father's Chilling Claim and the Race Against Time

The baffling disappearance of Montrell Williams on May 10th has captivated New York City and beyond, leaving a community holding its breath. The latest development has sent shockwaves through the investigation: Montrell's father, Arius Williams, 20, allegedly confessed to the boy's 17-year-old mother at knifepoint that he threw their son into the Bronx River.

This horrifying claim, reported by law enforcement sources, emerged during a street confrontation on Sunday. The armed father reportedly told the boy's mother he tossed Montrell from the Bruckner Bridge. Adding a grim weight to this assertion is surveillance footage from the night of May 10th, purportedly showing Arius Williams disposing of a black bag into the river.

Dive Teams Deployed, Search Continues for Montrell Williams

In response to these alarming allegations and the compelling video evidence, the NYPD swiftly deployed dive teams to scour the Bronx River. Despite intensive efforts Monday night and throughout Tuesday, no sign of young Montrell has been found. The search, a race against time, continues relentlessly.

Custodial Interference Charges and Pending Investigations

Arius Williams was taken into custody on Monday, held without bail on a warrant for custodial interference. His refusal to disclose his son's whereabouts to a family court judge led to this contempt of court charge. However, sources indicate that additional charges are pending against him in connection with the harrowing knifepoint incident involving Montrell's mother.

Timeline of a Tragedy: The Disappearance of Montrell Williams

The tragic chain of events began on Mother's Day, May 10th. Montrell, who had been dropped off by his mother a day earlier for a scheduled custody visit, was at his father's Hunts Point Avenue home for a family celebration. An argument between Arius and his own father reportedly led to Arius leaving with Montrell around 10 p.m. Despite having split custody and visitation rights, Arius was later seen without his son at a cousin's house on Brook Avenue around 12:30 a.m.

NYPD Under Scrutiny: Internal Affairs Probes Initial Response

The initial response to Montrell's disappearance is now under review by the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau. Questions have arisen regarding whether the case should have been immediately investigated as custodial interference rather than simply a missing person report. The boy's concerned mother reportedly contacted authorities in the days following Montrell's disappearance, only to be informed that intervention was not possible during a regularly scheduled visit. It was only after she appeared in family court on May 30th, expressing grave concerns about her son's and ex-partner's whereabouts, that a warrant was issued for Arius Williams.

How You Can Help Find Montrell Williams

As the investigation intensifies, authorities are urging the public for any information that could lead to Montrell Williams. Every tip, no matter how small, could be crucial in bringing this little boy home.

If you have any information regarding Montrell Williams' disappearance, please contact:

• NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline: 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)
• For Spanish: 1-888-57-PISTA (74782)
• Submit tips online: https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/
• Connect on X (formerly Twitter): @NYPDTips

The search for Montrell Williams continues. Our collective hope remains that this heartbreaking story will soon have a resolution, and that justice will be served for this innocent child.