A frantic search is underway for 3-year-old Sherin Mathews, a Texas girl who disappeared after her father left her outside at night as punishment for not drinking her milk, according to police.
Sherin is three-feet tall, 22-pounds and was last seen wearing a pink top, black pajama bottoms, and pink flip-flops outside of her home in Richardson, just north of Dallas, around 3 a.m. Saturday, local authorities said in a release. She has "developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills," according to authorities.
Sherin's father, Westley Mathews, reportedly told police that he ordered the small child to stand by a tree near an alley as punishment over the milk dispute. He returned to check on her 15 minutes later but discovered she was gone. He did not call police until five hours later, Sgt. Kevin Perlich told Dallas-Fort Worth station KXAS-TV.
“Why was the last sighting at 3 o’clock and the parents not call us until after 8 a.m.? That’s the question we want answered as well,” Perlich told the station. “As far as why she was out there, how long she was out there, that’s the questions we have for the parents.”
Mathews was arrested later that night for abandoning or endangering a child, police said. He was released on $250,000 bond. The girl’s father told police that he knew coyotes had been spotted in the alley where he left his daughter, according to a copy of the arrest affidavit. The home is also near railroad tracks. A 4-year-old was taken from the family's home and placed in foster care, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services told WFAA. She also added that the family has previously had contact with the department.
Late Monday afternoon, an Amber Alert was discontinued due to a lack of leads in the case.
Sherin is three-feet tall, 22-pounds and was last seen wearing a pink top, black pajama bottoms, and pink flip-flops outside of her home in Richardson, just north of Dallas, around 3 a.m. Saturday, local authorities said in a release. She has "developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills," according to authorities.
Sherin's father, Westley Mathews, reportedly told police that he ordered the small child to stand by a tree near an alley as punishment over the milk dispute. He returned to check on her 15 minutes later but discovered she was gone. He did not call police until five hours later, Sgt. Kevin Perlich told Dallas-Fort Worth station KXAS-TV.
“Why was the last sighting at 3 o’clock and the parents not call us until after 8 a.m.? That’s the question we want answered as well,” Perlich told the station. “As far as why she was out there, how long she was out there, that’s the questions we have for the parents.”
Mathews was arrested later that night for abandoning or endangering a child, police said. He was released on $250,000 bond. The girl’s father told police that he knew coyotes had been spotted in the alley where he left his daughter, according to a copy of the arrest affidavit. The home is also near railroad tracks. A 4-year-old was taken from the family's home and placed in foster care, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services told WFAA. She also added that the family has previously had contact with the department.
Late Monday afternoon, an Amber Alert was discontinued due to a lack of leads in the case.