Father of missing Richardson girl arrested for injury to a child

The father of a missing Richardson girl was arrested Monday night for injury to a child.

Wesley Mathews was taken into custody on Monday night on the new charge, which is a first degree felony.

Authorities discovered the body of a child on Sunday in a culvert in Richardson. Police believe the body is that of missing child Sherin Mathews, 3, but the medical examiner has not yet confirmed the identity. The culvert is about half a mile from the family's home, directly down the railroad tracks from where her father said he left her for punishment at 3 a.m. on Oct. 7, because she wouldn't drink her milk.

Richardson PD said Wesley Mathews showed up at the police station voluntarily with his lawyer on Monday afternoon and asked to speak with detectives.

"He provided an alternate statement of events from those which he had given previously, regarding the disappearance of Sherin," police said in a statement. Officials declined to specify what he told police.

Richardson authorities said additional charges could be filed against another person or the charges against the father could be modified or upgraded.

"It really depends on how this investigation continues to unfold. Again, it's very dynamic. We've got a lot of people working on it. It's changing very rapidly," said Sgt. Kevin Perlich, Richardson PD.

Wesley Mathews was previously charged with child endangerment and was free on bond, but had to wear an ankle monitor. He made an appearance in court on Monday morning for a custody hearing involving his four-year-old biological daughter.

The mother, Sini Mathews, is working to identify the body by looking at the clothing and trying to provide Sherin's dental records, but police say she has not provided any other information about what may have happened.

Wesley Mathews was being held at the Richardson City Jail on Monday evening and his bond was set at $1 million.