'More arrests possible' in Sherin Mathews case, police say mother 'not co-operating'

Richardson Police Department in Texas confirmed that more arrests are possible in the still “dynamic” and “active” investigation into the disappearance of a three-year-old Indian girl child Sherin Mathews in this affluent Texas suburb. “We have a solid case,” police confirmed after speaking to the father of the missing child. The mother of the child is “not cooperating” in giving details about the child’s disappearance, Officer Kevin Perlich of Richardson Police said. The body of a child (not yet confirmed as Sherin Mathews) was found in a culvert Sunday not far from Mathews’ home in the same city. The father Wesley Mathews “voluntarily” landed up at the police station and has since been locked up in Richardson City Jail in Texas. His bond has been set at $1 million. Richardson is home to the University of Texas at Dallas. Sherin Mathews disappeared at an unearthly morning hour on 7 October, 2017 after being “punished” for not drinking her milk. Temperatures at this time of the morning have been in the range of 50-55F which is roughly 10-15 degrees Celsius. Sherin was adopted from an orphanage in India. Sherin Mathews’ adoptive mother, Sini Mathews, is now working to convince local authorities that her biological daughter will be safe at home. The biological daughter was taken into state custody after Sherin’s disappearance. [caption id=“attachment_4166205” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Sherin Mathews who went missing on 7 October, 2017. AP[/caption] Here are the latest updates on the case. All quotes are from Richardson police. Local police are awaiting confirmation from medical examiners that the child’s body found in a culvert on 23 October is that of Sherin Mathews. A statement on this is most likely in a few hours on Tuesday Central Time US. What is the mother’s role so far? Ms Mathews’ role so far has been in identifying the body (which was found and believed to be that of Sherin Mathews — not confirmed yet ). She has co-operated in as far as identifying the body. She has not co-operated in as far as giving details of how the child disappeared or any other questions related to the case. What is Sherin Mathew’s father telling the cops? The father, Wesley Mathews has been charged with Injury to a Child, “a first-degree felony punishable by life or from 5 to 99 years in prison,” according to Richardson City police. “In this case, injury to a child is a first-degree felony. From some of the details he (Wesley Mathews) provided us, it meets the description of a first-degree felony. The charge really does not matter, the punishment does. What was Wesley Mathews’ first version of events? Wesley Mathews had told police he ordered Sherin to stand outside the family home at about 3 am on 7 October as punishment for not drinking her milk. He said that after 15 minutes, she was gone. Mathews claimed he went back inside the house, washed clothes and waited until it became light. Police are not saying how much Mathews’ new version of events has changed or not from this “original” version but they say the ducks are lining up now and they have a “solid case”. “Active investigation, more arrests possible” Criminal charges are determined based on what information and evidence are available at the time. Mathews’ statements today to Richardson detectives currently support the offence of Injury to a Child. This charge carries the possibility of a life sentence in prison. Keep in mind, this is an active investigation, and there is the possibility of additional arrests or modified charges as more evidence becomes available.” Where exactly was three-year-old’s body found? In a culvert tucked away in a large field in the area between E Spring Valley Road and S Bowser Road in Richardson about half a mile from the Mathews’ home on Sunday. “We cannot talk about the condition of the body. That would not be appropriate,” police said. Is the jigsaw coming together? Yes Police said the father’s (new) version of events is tying up what they have pieced together. “As he’s giving us the information, it’s coming together with the rest of the investigation. He’s come to us, it’s making sense to us, ” police said. “Worst type of case” “It’s the worst type of case you get to work on where innocent children are harmed. We want to assure people that there’s no predator or something like that out there,” Richardson police said.