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Texas police find child's body in area where Sherin Mathews went missing

Cydney Henderson
The Republic | azcentral.com
Sherin Mathews, 3, was put outside at 3 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, as a punishment for not drinking her milk, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. When her father went to check on her 15 minutes later, she was not there.

Texas authorities say they located a child's body Sunday in the area where 3-year-old Sherin Mathews had been reported missing earlier this month.

The Richardson Police Department made the announcement at a press conference today, but say it’s too early to identify if the child’s body is Mathews. Police say it's not clear how the child died.

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the body found Sunday was less than a mile from where the toddler's family lives

An AMBER Alert was first issued for Mathews when she went missing on October 7 in Richardson, Texas. It was eventually canceled because of a lack of progress, but the investigation continued.

The young girl — who has developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills — was last seen by her father, Wesley Mathews, wearing a pink top and black pajama bottoms two weeks ago.

Wesley Mathews told authorities he took his daughter outside at 3 a.m. Saturday to teach her a lesson for not drinking her milk.

The 37-year-old told officers he asked his daughter to stand by a large tree behind a fence in the backyard, according police records. The tree is across an alley near the home, which backs railroad tracks.

When he went outside 15 minutes later to check on the toddler, she was gone.

Wesley Mathews alerted authorities of his daughter's disappearance five hours later, according to police who called the delay “concerning.”

He also told police that coyotes have been spotted in the alley where he left his young daughter.

Wesley Mathews was arrested Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, and charged with abandoning or endangering a child. Mathews was the last person to see Sherin Mathews, 3.

Wesley Mathews was arrested and charged Saturday with abandoning or endangering a child.

He was released from jail a day later on a $250,000 bond.

Police say the girl’s mother, Sini Mathews, was asleep during the incident and is not facing charges.

The couple’s 4-year-old daughter was removed from the home and placed in foster care, according to Marissa Gonzales, a spokeswoman with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

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