Mother of Toddler Allegedly Thrown Into Bronx River Sues City Over Police Response

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The mother of a two-year-old boy who authorities allege was thrown into the Bronx River by his father has filed a $60 million lawsuit against New York City, claiming police failed to act when she reported her child missing on Mother’s Day.

Seventeen-year-old Cierra Carroll says she repeatedly called the New York Police Department (NYPD) after her son, Montrell Williams, was not returned following a scheduled custody visit with his father, 20-year-old Arius Williams. According to the lawsuit, Carroll’s concerns were dismissed, with one officer allegedly telling her, “So what?” before hanging up the phone.

Montrell vanished on May 10, 2024, and his body was discovered nearly a month later on June 11 in the East River. Authorities believe he was thrown from the Bruckner Expressway overpass in the Bronx. Court documents state surveillance footage shows Arius Williams walking with Montrell shortly before the incident.

Williams now faces charges including second-degree murder and manslaughter. He remains in custody without bail.

At a press conference outside the NYPD’s 40th Precinct, Carroll, accompanied by her mother, Octavia Roane, and the family’s attorney, Shiraz Khan, expressed deep frustration over how her case was handled. “They put them on notice that this child is in danger,” Khan said. “No Amber Alert was issued at all. And, while this child’s life was hanging in the balance, they were pushed to the side.”

Roane echoed her daughter’s anger, saying the police showed “no care in the world” and that the family was repeatedly told to take their concerns to family court rather than receiving immediate investigative action.

According to reports, police say Montrell was murdered on May 10, but the initial missing-person complaint was not filed with the NYPD until May 11. The family disputes the timeline, stating they made multiple attempts to alert authorities on the day of his disappearance.

Officials confirmed that during a court appearance in Bronx Family Court, Williams refused to reveal his son’s whereabouts, leading to his arrest on a warrant for failing to comply with the custody agreement.

Mayor Eric Adams has stated that the NYPD’s handling of the case is under review.

Montrell was last seen around 10 p.m. on May 10 in Hunts Point, about a mile from his home. He was reportedly wearing only a white shirt and diaper at the time. Authorities believe the child was with his father for a routine custodial visit when the tragedy occurred.

The family’s lawsuit seeks accountability for what they allege was a lack of urgency and disregard for warning signs that could have prevented the child’s death.