Grieving nephew of Michael K. Williams says an autopsy will determine uncle’s cause of death

Michael K. Williams’ nephew has acknowledged that he and his wife were the ones who discovered his body Monday while checking on his well-being, but he is not ready to accept reports that the actor died from a drug overdose.

‘I’m not going to speak about what the police are alleging,’ Dominic DuPont, 43, of Brooklyn, told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. ‘Police have often had different views about things. Last I checked, there was not an autopsy done. And that will happen.’

He and his wife Staci Nixon DuPont made the shocking discovery Monday afternoon when they stopped by his uncle’s third-floor penthouse along the East River in Williamsburg.

‘My wife and I did a wellness check and he was deceased,’ the nephew said. ‘We made the appropriate calls to 911.’

Michael K. Williams’ nephew Dominic DuPont (pictured  outside his uncle’s apartment) revealed to DailyMail.com that he and his wife were the ones who discovered the actor’s body Monday 

Drug paraphernalia was recovered at the scene, and police sources have said Williams died from an apparent overdose, possibly heroin laced with fentanyl. But DuPont (pictured with his uncle) told DailyMail.com, 'I'm not going to speak about what the police are alleging'

Drug paraphernalia was recovered at the scene, and police sources have said Williams died from an apparent overdose, possibly heroin laced with fentanyl. But DuPont (pictured with his uncle) told DailyMail.com, ‘I’m not going to speak about what the police are alleging’

Williams appeared alongside his nephew in a 2018 VICE documentary titled Raised In The System. DuPont was sentenced to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder at age 19

Williams appeared alongside his nephew in a 2018 VICE documentary titled Raised In The System. DuPont was sentenced to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder at age 19

Drug paraphernalia was recovered at the scene, and police sources have said Williams died from an apparent overdose, possibly heroin laced with fentanyl.

Staci DuPont, who made the 911 call, has disputed claims it was an overdose. ‘That’s not factual,’ she told DailyMail.com late Monday.

The Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet ruled on the cause of death.

In his interview Tuesday, Dominic DuPont declined to discuss specifics of the investigation, wanting to focus his remarks on his uncle’s legacy including work they did together promoting social justice and criminal justice reforms.

He was convicted as a teen of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. His sentence was commuted in 2017. A year later, he was interviewed by his uncle in the VICE documentary ‘Raised in the System.’

‘Michael was someone I loved as an uncle and he was also an amazing person,’ the nephew told DailyMail.com. ‘He was someone who supported me through my incarceration. He supported me through his commitment to work with not only me, but people who were in the same situations as me.’

DuPont is seen in an embrace outside of his uncle's apartment building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he was found dead

DuPont is seen in an embrace outside of his uncle’s apartment building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he was found dead 

'Michael was someone I loved as an uncle and he was also an amazing person,' the nephew told DailyMail.com

‘Michael was someone I loved as an uncle and he was also an amazing person,’ the nephew told DailyMail.com

In an NPR interview in 2016, Williams discussed his nephew’s conviction and how he became a ‘model prisoner.’

‘You know, he went in at a very early age,’ Williams said. ‘He defended his twin brother in a fight, and they got jumped, and a gun went off, and someone lost their life at the hands of my nephew. And I believe that had we had the proper money to hire the high-powered lawyers, his outcome probably would’ve been different. But, you know, did he do the crime? Yes. 

‘Did he do the time? Absolutely. But his record, what he’s shown society, how he’s grown in there – we’re talking got his education, got married in there… He mentors young men that come in behind him, whether it’s a HIV/AIDS program or a Scared Straight program. While doing all of this, he still managed to keep his respect and his dignity.’

Williams was working with his nephew on various projects, including season 2 of the VICE series ‘Black Market,’ focused on people who came from impoverished communities and survived off the black market. 

Williams was discovered inside his penthouse apartment, located in the trendy Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg. The expensive complex is located on the waterfront and features sweeping views of Manhattan

Williams was discovered inside his penthouse apartment, located in the trendy Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg. The expensive complex is located on the waterfront and features sweeping views of Manhattan 

A swarm of police officers were spotted on the scene. They are pictured removing evidence bags from the actor's apartment

A swarm of police officers were spotted on the scene. They are pictured removing evidence bags from the actor’s apartment 

The two were also planning a documentary with the NYPD, and had traveled the country visiting jails and prisons to highlight race issues in the justice system.

‘Mike was a loving human being who was committed to understanding that those who were once closest to the problem are probably closest to the solution, and also furthest from resources,’ DuPont said. 

‘Mike made it his life’s work to engage the community, people around social justice, criminal justice, policy work, to hopefully develop solutions where we could help communities who lack resources to heal.’

‘We plan to honor Michael’s legacy and to continue the fight,’ he continued. ‘Michael would not have had it any other way.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk