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Richardson police say the body of a small child was found Sunday during the search for missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews.

The investigation led police to the area of E. Spring Valley Rd. and S. Bowser Rd around 11 a.m. From there cadaver dogs lead them to the body which was found in a culvert.

The body has not yet been identified but is believed to be Sherin. The area is half a mile from the family's home, directly down the railroad tracks from where her father says he left her for punishment at 3 a.m. on October 7, because she wouldn't drink her milk.

Her adoptive father, Wesley Mathews, was charged with child endangerment. He is now out on bond.


Both he and his wife have separate attorneys and police said they have stopped cooperating with the investigation. But, police notified the couple about the discovery of the child's body.

The medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy to positively identify the child determine a cause of death. Police have not yet said whether there were signs of foul play. No additional arrests were made.

As police broke the news to media, people from across the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex deeply affected by her disappearance and drawn to the scene, came to the memorial for Sherin outside her home.

"I came from a background of abuse, and so it touched me very hard when I heard this story. It just brought something to my heart," said Monique Hendricks who came from Fort Worth.

The South Indian community was especially affected by Sherin's story. Her parents had adopted her from India.

"We didn't want this to come this way. We didn't want this to happen in this manner. We thought we would find her alive," said Omar Siddiqi, a search volunteer.

On Monday, Sherin's mother will be in court to try to regain custody of her biological 4-year-old daughter. The little girl was placed into state custody not long after Sherin was reported missing. The mother will try to convince a judge that her daughter will be safe back at home.