Father Of Sherin Mathews Arrested On First Degree Felony

RICHARDSON (CBS11) - Richardson police have arrested the father of missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews, in connection to her disappearance.

Wesley Mathews is charged with Injury to a Child, a first degree felony that could lead to a life sentence.

Police say he and his attorney voluntarily came to the department Monday afternoon to speak with detectives.

"I can't go into the details of what exactly he told us, but what I can tell you is it was contrary to what we were initially told when she was first reported missing," said Sgt. Kevin Perlich.

Mathews first told police that he left his daughter by a tree behind their home at three o'clock in the morning on October 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk.  Police, at the time, arrested him for endangering a child.  Based on his new statement, investigators added the charge of Injury to a Child and booked him into the city jail. His bond is now set at $1 million.

Police say the investigation is still far from over.  They warn there could be more arrests or a possible change in the charges against Mathews.

Sini Mathews‚ Sherin's mother, has been helping police identify the body of a child discovered yesterday in this drain pipe less than a mile from the family's home, but investigators say her cooperation ends there.

(credit: Richardson Police Department)

The medical examiner's office – meanwhile – has yet to positively identify the body found yesterday, but police believe it is Sherin Mathews.

Attorney and former police officer Pete Schulte weighed in on the arrest of Wesley Mathews on CBS 11 News at 10:00 p.m. Monday.