Body Found 'Most Likely' Belongs To Missing Texas Toddler Sherin Mathews

Investigators in Texas may have found the body of a toddler missing for more than two weeks. A body discovered Sunday near a road “is most likely” Sherin Mathews, a spokesperson for the Richardson Police Department told reporters. An official identification has not yet been made, nor has a cause of death been released.

The 3-year-old has been missing since October 7 after her father allegedly left her outside in the middle of the night as punishment for not drinking her milk. Since then, authorities have scoured the area in and around Richardson, Texas in an effort to find the girl.

“During one of those search operations, the body of a small child was discovered in the area of East Spring Valley Road and South Bowser Road,” Richardson Police Sgt. Kevin Perlich said Sunday, according to KTVT. “The indications are that it is most likely her, however, we have not had a positive ID. So until we have a positive identification we are not gonna say that it is Sherin.”

The body was discovered Sunday in a culvert less than a mile from the Mathews’ home after search dogs were deployed in the area. An FBI evidence recovery team was sent to the scene to process it, police said.

Sherin’s father, Wesley Mathews, told police he left the little girl under a tree near their at around 3 a.m. because she refused to drink her milk. When he returned 15 minutes later, he told police, she was gone. He did not call authorities until five hours later, during which time he completed a load of laundry, prompting concerns among authorities. Mathews was arrested for endangering a child but was released on $250,000 bond. He remained out on bail Monday, and an arrest had not yet been made as a result of discovering the body, police said.

A prayer vigil was held in the community Sunday night after authorities announced they had discovered the body.

“I think everybody’s just ready for closure and we just want her to be at peace,” resident Gauthami Vemula told KXAS-TV.

Both parents have retained lawyers in connection to Sherin’s disappearance, although her mother has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Both Sherin’s mother and father have stopped cooperating with investigators, police told reporters. Authorities were waiting Monday on an official identification of the body.