The adoptive father of Texas toddler Sherin Mathews was placed on suicide watch inside Dallas County jail Wednesday after police re-arrested him in connection with the girl’s death. Authorities discovered the 3-year-old’s body in a drainage ditch Sunday after more than two weeks of searching.

Wesley Mathews, 37, initially told police he left the girl outside in the early morning hours Oct. 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk. When he returned 15 minutes later, she was gone, he told authorities. Based upon his story, investigators launched a two-week search for the little girl, which eventually led them to discover her body. After she was found, however, Mathews changed his account of what took place that night.

Based on his first statement, Mathews was arrested on charges of endangering a child but was released after posting bond. But Mathews voluntarily arrived at the police station Monday after Sherin’s body was found, where he gave what authorities called an “alternate statement.” He told investigators that, contrary to his initial account, Sherin actually choked on her milk that night and he thought she died.

“Wesley Mathews said she wouldn’t listen to him,” the arrest warrant stated. “Eventually, the 3-year-old girl began to drink the milk. Wesley Mathews then physically assisted the 3-year-old girl in drinking the milk. The 3-year-old girl began to choke. She was coughing and her breathing slowed. Eventually, Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died. Wesley Mathews then admitted to removing the body from the home.”

Mathews was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child. He was transferred from a local jail in Richardson, Texas, to Dallas County Jail Wednesday, where he was placed on suicide watch and under protective custody, according to WFAA. The protocol is common for people involved in high profile cases, the outlet reported.

Sherin’s adoptive mother, meanwhile, was not facing charges in the case. Sini Mathews initially retained Kent Starr as her lawyer, but dropped him Tuesday and retained Mitch Nolte.

“She had nothing to do with Sherin’s death or the removal of her body from the home,” Nolte said in a statement released Wednesday on behalf of Sini Mathews. “Mrs. Mathews is trying to grieve for her lost daughter while still caring for her remaining daughter. She is struggling to pick up the pieces of a shattered life.”

Police still had not released Sherin’s cause of death. Should Mathews be convicted of the charges, he could face life in prison.

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