The Dallas County medical examiner says 3-year-old Sherin Mathews, who was adopted from India and found in a ditch in Richardson, Texas, last year, died by “homicidal violence.”
Autopsy details and toxicology reports are due to be released later on Wednesday. The death has been declared a homicide, and Sherin's adoptive father Wesley Mathews is facing charges in her death.
Wesley Mathews reported his daughter missing Oct. 3 and her body was found two weeks later on Oct. 26. Wesley initially told police he sent Sherin outside when she refused to drink her milk at 3 a.m. and that she had disappeared when he went to check on her.
He later changed his story and said he had “physically assisted” her in drinking milk when she choked, NBC 5 reported. He then reportedly put her body in the ditch and planned to go back and bury her properly later.
Wesley Mathews is alleged to have done laundry before calling the police at 8 a.m. after his daughter’s death, the Houston Chronicle reported.
He is in prison on $1 million bond for felony injury to a child with intent to commit serious bodily injury.
An attorney for adoptive mother Sini Mathews claimed nothing in the autopsy or toxicology reports suggests his client’s involvement in the death, NBC 5 reported.
Both Sini and Wesley Mathews are attempting to regain custody of their 4-year-old biological daughter, who is living with relatives, according to the Chronicle.
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