THE Texas father who told police his 3-year-old daughter disappeared after he sent her outside at 3 a.m. as punishment for not drinking milk has now told police she died from choking on the drink, according to an arrest warrant issued on Tuesday.
Wesley Mathews reported that his daughter Sherin went missing on Oct. 7 from the family's home in Richardson, Texas, outside Dallas. Her body was found on Sunday and has been positively identified by the local medical examiner, police said on Tuesday.
Mathews, 37, changed his story about the incident during a meeting on Monday with his attorney and detectives, according to police documents.
He told detectives that the child, who was born in India and adopted by the family, would not obey his instruction to drink the milk while they were in the family's garage but eventually complied with his help.
She then "began to choke. She was coughing and her breathing slowed," the affidavit said. "Eventually, Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died."
The suspect admitted moving her body from the home, the affidavit said.
Mathews was charged on Monday with injury to a child, a first-degree felony that carries a maximum punishment of 99 years in prison, police said.
Sergeant Kevin Perlich of the Richardson Police Department said in a phone interview on Tuesday that investigators were seeking answers to many questions, including why the two were in the garage as the child was asked to drink milk.
"By no means do we consider this investigation completed," Perlich said, adding there could be additional charges and arrests.
Mathews' attorney did not return a call on Tuesday requesting comment.
Mathews previously was charged with suspected child endangerment after telling police that he punished the child for not drinking her milk by making her stand next to a tree by an alley near their home.
At the time, he said he checked on her 15 minutes later and she was gone. Police said that he reported her disappearance about five hours later.
Sherin Mathews was identified by dental records after officers using search dogs found her body in a culvert under a road, police said.
Reuters
Wed Oct 25 2017
Wesley Mathews, 37, is seen in this Richardson Police Department photo in Richardson, Texas, U.S., October 24, 2017. Courtesy Richardson Police Department/Handout via REUTERS
Bayi lelaki berusia seminggu ditemukan di kedai jual ayam
Seorang bayi lelaki berusia kira-kira seminggu ditemukan di sebuah kedai menjual ayam proses di Jabur Kubur, Jalan Air Putih, dekat sini awal pagi tadi.
KPKT salur RM83.66 juta bagi 17 projek di Melaka
Peruntukan bagi kategori bina baharu dan projek sambungan itu yang terbesar dalam sejarah negeri Melaka dengan nilai terbesar disalurkan untuk pembinaan baharu projek Program Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR).
Imigresen gagalkan sindiket penyeludupan manusia di ibu negara
Pasukan operasi diatur gerak ke premis itu dan bertembung dengan sebuah kenderaan Perodua Myvi yang dipandu oleh suspek di lot parkir.
AWANI Ringkas: Polis tahan dua lelaki cuba masuk Istana, rampas parang
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Grand Theft Auto 6 akan tiba pada musim luruh 2025
Ini masih bukan tarikh muktamad kerana musim luruh tiba sekitar penghujung September hingga awal November. Sungguhpun begitu kita kini mempunyai sasaran bilakan GTA 6 akan dilancarkan. Seb
[TERKINI] Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gantang tidak akan jawab surat Bersatu
Ahli Parlimen Bukit Gantang, Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal menegaskan tidak akan menjawab surat arahan yang dihantar Bersatu.
Negara mempunyai pengalaman kendali pemahaman ekstremis
Justeru demi menangani isu ini dengan lebih baik pada masa mendatang, Felo Bersekutu, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) The Hague, Dr Ahmad El Muhammady berpandangan suatu sistem amaran perlu diwujudkan lebih awal.
Ahli silap mata David Copperfield dituduh beri dadah, perkosa 16 wanita
Tiga daripada mangsa mendakwa telah diberi dadah sebelum melakukan hubungan seks.
Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: Kediaman Konstabel Muhamad Syafiq jadi tumpuan
Kediaman Konstabel Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said, 24, di Taman Seri Mahkota Jaya, Gambang menjadi tumpuan orang ramai.
AWANI Ringkas: Faisal Halim akan jalani pembedahan keempat
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.