The adoptive father of a Texas child found dead by authorities has changed his story, saying he moved her body after she choked to death on milk.

The discovery of three-year-old Sherin Mathews’ body in a culvert in Richardson, Texas has implicated the child’s father, who has been arrested and charged with injury to a child.

According to a newly released arrest warrant affidavit, Wesley Mathews told police officers more than two weeks ago that his adopted daughter disappeared after he punished her for not drinking her milk. He said he sent Sherin to go outside and stand near a tree at around three in the morning, after which she vanished.

But he changed his story after the body was found, discarding the explanation that his daughter had gone missing and instead saying he was present for her death - and had transported her body, the statement said.

One day after the discovery Mr Mathews appeared at the Richardson Police Department with a revised story, according to the affidavit. He told police officers he moved the child’s body after he believed she had died.

“He had been trying to get the three year old girl to drink her milk in the garage” after she initially refused, according to the affidavit, after which the girl “began to choke” as Mr Mathews “physically assisted her”.

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“She was coughing and her breathing slowed. Eventually, Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died,” the affidavit says. “Wesley Mathews then admitted to removing the body from the home”.