Family says there's been 'absolutely no information' in 7-year-old's death

BOSTON — Two months after a 7-year-old boy drowned at a city-run summer camp in South Boston, the family says they've heard next to nothing from investigators.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, an attorney for the family of Kyzr Willis said the family has yet to receive a definitive cause of death form the city's chief medical examiner.

"The family of Kyzr Willis was never consulted or informed of the police department's independent determination of Kyzr's cause of death prior to their public statement as to Kyzr's cause of death," attorney Robert M. Griffin said in his statement.

Griffin said the family have received "absolutely no information" from the police department or city officials.

Within two days of Willis's death, the Boston Police Department announced his death had been ruled accidental.

Since then, the family says it has been struggling for answers.

FOX25 spoke with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh who said he could not comment on the situation because the family has hired a lawyer.

You can read the family's full statement below:

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for being here today.

As you are all aware on July 26, 2016, 7-year-old Kyzr Willis was attending a day camp run by the City of Boston here at the Curley Community Center along with his 9-year-old brother and his cousin. The children were driven to the Center that morning by Kyzr’s mother, Melissa Willis.

That morning, Melissa Willis woke her sons at 8:45 a.m. for camp, she packed their lunches and prepared their breakfast. As the boys had breakfast she went to pick up her niece.
When she returned she gathered them up and drove the three children here to the Curley Center.

She said good bye to her sons and niece; the last words she heard from Kyzr were, “I love you, Mommy” as he closed the car door.

That was the last time Melissa Willis saw her son Kyzr.

The children were dropped at the day camp run by the City of Boston for a day that should have been just another fun summer day at camp.

Melissa Willis went about her business after dropping the children off just like any other day, until she received a call from her niece, Savannah at approximately 2:40 p.m.
She then received a panicked call from Savannah telling her that Kyzr was missing and no one could find him. That call was then disconnected.

Melissa Willis was terrified and immediately called Savannah back. Savannah handed the phone to an unknown adult that informed Melissa they were trying to locate the program Director but were not able to find him at that point. 
Melissa then ran to her car and drove here immediately.

When she arrived she was overcome by fear. No one was able to provide her any information as to her child’s whereabouts or safety.

Helicopters were flying overhead, police and other first responders were arriving in what seemed like an endless stream.

Then the waiting began and went on for hours before Kyzr was finally discovered in the water; his family’s worst fears confirmed; the day ended with the tragic and unexplained death of Kyzr Willis.

Unfortunately for Kyzr’s family, the waiting is still ongoing.

The Police Department publicly announced within 2 days that Kyzr’s death was the result of an accidental drowning.

However, over 2 months later, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has yet to issue a definitive finding as to the cause of death in this case.

The family of Kyzr Willis was never consulted or informed of the Police Department’s independent determination of Kyzr’s cause of death prior to their public statement as to Kyzr’s cause of death.

To date, they have received absolutely no information from the Police Department or any other City officials as to the results of their investigation into the facts and circumstances of Kyzr’s needless and tragic death.

On August 29, 2016, a Freedom of Information Act request was served on the Police Department requesting copies of all Boston Police reports, records, interviews, investigative reports, and inter-agency request for assistance, 911 calls received and any other records generated as a result of the Boston Police Department's investigation into the death of Kyzr Willis on July 26,2016 at the Curley Community Center in South Boston.

Once again, to date, despite repeated inquiries, no response has been received by the City.

Cox Media Group