Photo: WFFA
The 3-year-old has been missing since Oct. 8.
By Emily Blackwood — Written on Oct 23, 2017
Police discovered a body Sunday morning that they believe to be Sherin Matthews, the 3-year-old who's been missing for two weeks from Richardson, Texas.
Texas authorities discovered the body of a small child during their search for Matthews around 11 a.m., Oct. 22 in a culvert beneath a road. According to Sgt. Kevin Perlich, no arrests have been made in connection with the discovery of the body.
A medical examiner still has to make a positive identification, but Perlich said, "It is most likely" Sherin Matthews.
Her adoptive parents have been made aware of the discovery, and the cause of death has not been determined.
The child's father, Wesley Matthews, was arrested the afternoon she went missing after he told police he left his adoptive daughter outside around 3 a.m. as punishment because she "wouldn't drink her milk.
According to Wesley Matthews arrest affidavit, he told her to stand near a large tree in their backyard and went inside for 15 minutes. When he came back outside, she was gone.
He told police he thought Sherin would come back, so he waited five hours before calling the police to report her missing. In that time, he even did a load of laundry.
He was the last person to see the child and was arrested on charges of felony endangerment to a child. He was placed on electric ankle monitoring and surrendered his passport as a condition of making bond the next day.
Police said the family's SUV was seized as evidence after they learned it disappeared in the five hours between Sherin's disappearance and her father calling police.
During the search for Sherin, police used drones and found some "articles" in a field and a creek in Richardson, but they haven't said whether or not they are actually evidence in this case.
Both of the toddler's parents are currently "uncooperative," according to police, and have hired attorneys to represent them.
Child protective services removed Wesley Matthew's 4-year-old biological daughter and placed her in state custody after Sherin disappeared and he was arrested.
Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 10:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTango’s Facebook page. You can follow her on Instagram (@blackw00d) and Twitter (@emztweetz).