The mother and grandmother of a 2-year-old boy, who authorities claim was thrown into the Bronx River by his father, are taking legal action against New York officials. They allege that when they reached out to 911, they received a dismissive response of ‘So what.’
On Mother’s Day, the boy, Montrell Williams, went missing following a visit with his 20-year-old father, Arius Williams. Sadly, Montrell’s body was discovered in the East River almost a month later on June 11.
The child’s mother, 17-year-old Cierra Carroll, is now filing a $60 million lawsuit against the city. The lawsuit argues that the NYPD neglected to properly investigate her son’s disappearance.
Carroll states that she informed the police multiple times about her son’s situation but found no support. She expressed her distress during a press event held outside the NYPD’s 40th Precinct on a Friday.
‘They told me not to pursue him and instead to file a complaint with the police,’ Carroll recounted. ‘I informed them he had a warrant, and their response was, “So what?”‘
‘And hung up the phone,’ Carroll’s mother, Octavia Roane, added.
According to court documents, Montrell’s father was seen on surveillance footage walking with his son before allegedly throwing him from the Bruckner Expressway overpass in The Bronx.
Montrell Williams 2, (pictured) was last seen wearing only a white shirt and diaper, at an apartment building in Hunts Point – about a mile from his home
Williams mother, 17‑year‑old Cierra Carroll (pictured in black), is suing the city for $60 million, alleging the NYPD failed to investigate the toddler’s disappearance
Montrell, 2, vanished on Mother’s Day after a custody visit with his 20‑year‑old father Arius WIlliams, who now faces murder charges
Arius Williams now faces charges including second‑degree murder and manslaughter, and remains held without bail.
Carroll filed a formal notice of claim, a prerequisite to suing a government entity, on Thursday.
She stood visibly shaken as she held her press conference in the Bronx, surrounded by her mother and a spokesperson for the family.
‘She’s very hurt right now,’ Roane said. ‘The way the police responded, the way they acted towards us, no care in the world.’
‘They put them on notice that this child is in danger. No Amber Alert was issued at all. And, while this child’s life was hanging in the balance, they were pushed to the side,’ the family’s lawyer, Shiraz Khan, added.
The family also alleges they filed multiple missing-persons reports but were repeatedly directed to family court rather than being treated with urgency.
Police say Montrell was murdered on May 10 but that the initial complaint wasn’t reported to the NYPD until May 11, The Gothamist reported.
Mayor Eric Adams said the NYPD’s handling of the case is under review.
The toddler was last seen around 10 p.m. on May 10, wearing only a white shirt and diaper, at an apartment building in Hunts Point about a mile from his home.
Detectives have reason to believe the father threw Montrell into the Bronx River, near the Bruckner Expressway. Pictured: A view of the Bronx River from the Bruckner Expressway
He was last seen around 10 p.m. on May 10 at an apartment building at Hunts Point Avenue and Gilbert Place in Hunts Point (pictured)
The boy was reportedly with his 20-year-old father that day for a scheduled custodial visit. The parents share split custody and visitation rights.
However, when Montrell was not returned, his mother grew concerned.
On May 30, after questioning the father about the boy’s whereabouts, she received a troubling response.
‘She asked where their son was and he made concerning statements,’ a police source told the Daily News. Officials confirmed that the father’s initial statements raised red flags about the child’s safety.
Following initial questioning at a police precinct, the father appeared in Bronx Family Court to answer a warrant for failing to return Montrell in accordance with the custody agreement, according to ABC7.
When he refused to disclose the boy’s location to the judge, he was taken into custody.
Detectives have reason to believe the father threw Montrell into the Bronx River, near the Bruckner Expressway.
