Arius Williams Arrested;- The 20-year-old father of a 2-year-old boy, who was found deceased in New York’s East River this week, is now facing charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Authorities believe they discovered the body of Montrell Williams, who had been missing for a month, in the East River on Wednesday. They are still waiting for a positive identification from the medical examiner. The child’s father, Arius Williams, had previously been identified as a person of interest but had not yet faced any criminal charges.
Detectives have indicated that they have reason to suspect the 20-year-old father may have thrown his son into the Bronx River. On Monday, the father appeared in Bronx Family Court to respond to a warrant for failing to return the boy to his mother, as stipulated in their custody agreement. A judge subsequently incarcerated him after he did not reveal the child’s location.
The close-knit family of the young father, who is accused of committing an unimaginable act, is struggling to comprehend the situation. The mystery surrounding the case is both painful and perplexing for the family, who note that the boy’s father had recently appeared to be grappling with mental health challenges.
The family fondly remembers Montrell as a cheerful and sweet toddler.
Once the body recovered on Wednesday is officially identified, the medical examiner will need to ascertain the exact cause of the little boy’s death.
