Police search Bronx River for 2-year-old missing for a month as father faces questions
The search continued Tuesday for a missing toddler in the Bronx. The NYPD searched part of the Bronx River for a second day Tuesday.
It's been a month since 2-year-old Montrell Williams was last seen. The NYPD initially took the search for him to the Bronx River Monday night, looking in the area of Bronx River Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard, near Hunts Point. They were back on the water near the Garrison Park Walkway underneath the Bruckner Expressway Tuesday.
"We are not leaving any stone unturned. We are going to do a thorough investigation to determine where the child is," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.
Father held on custodial interference charge, sources say
According to police, the child was last seen on May 10 around 10 p.m. at a building on Hunts Point Avenue, wearing a white shirt and diaper. He was with his father, who took him for scheduled visitation. The location is about a half-mile from where police boats have been spotted.
Police sources tell CBS News New York police were able to pinpoint surveillance video that put Williams' 20-year-old father in the area.
The parents have shared custody of the child. According to a police source, the mother went to family court on May 30, claiming she couldn't contact child's father, which is a violation of the custody agreement. A judge then issued a warrant for his arrest to appear in family court.
Police say the mother claims she had a confrontation with the father Monday that led her to believe the boy could be in danger, so she again notified police.
The father was taken into custody and appeared in family court, but allegedly refused to tell the judge where the child is. Sources say he's being held on a custodial interference charge, pending the investigation.
Sources said the father has no criminal record.
CBS News New York asked Adams why there was a 10-day delay between when the child was reported missing and when the police put his picture out to the public. Adams said the city is still unraveling what happened.
"We are still investigating all actions. The actions of the dad, the actions of the officers that responded, and once we have a full understanding based on the detective division, we'll be able to answer what happened," Adams said.
"Montrell was our heart"
Leroy Burton, who says his wife is the boy's paternal grandma, spoke to CBS News New York, saying he and Williams' aunts are devastated.
"Montrell was our heart," he said. "It's been stressful on the kids. It's been stressful on them. It's stressful on the grandmother, and I know it's stressful on the mother. We just want the baby returned safely."
Burton called Williams' father a "good guy."
"I don't know what happened. I don't know, something, I guess something pushed him over the edge," Burton said.
Burton believes Williams is OK.
"The baby is at one of his friends' houses and they not giving the baby up. That's what it is," he said.
Williams remains missing.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip or via DM on X, . All calls are kept confidential.
