POLICE: Father of missing girl left her outside as punishment because she wouldn't drink her milk

An Amber Alert continued Monday for a missing 3-year-old girl from Richardson.

Sherin Mathews was last seen around 3 a.m. Saturday. Her father has been arrested and charged with child endangerment.

Members of the family’s church, Emmanuel Bible Chapel in Irving, have been in and out of the home, comforting the girl’s mother and looking behind the home where Sherin was last seen.

“We are trying our best. We hope that baby Sherin is alive somewhere safe,” said Emmanuel Bible Chapel elder, Jose Cherian.

Wesley Mathews was arrested Saturday for abandoning or endangering a child. The arrest affidavit states: “He directed his daughter to stand near a large tree at 3 a.m. because she wouldn’t drink her milk.”

Documents go on to state that 15 minutes later: “he went back to the spot and she was gone.”

Police say Wesley and his wife waited until 8 a.m. to report her missing. The affidavit also states Wesley told police: “He knew coyotes had been seen in the alley where he left his daughter.”

A neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous says the Mathews had trouble conceiving their first child, a 4-year-old girl. He says the couple adopted Sherin, who has developmental issues and limited communication skills.

“They felt since God gave them that baby as a miracle baby, that they could help another little one without a family,” he said.

This neighbor described the Mathews as devout Christians, who wanted and prayed for Sherin, but he can’t comprehend why Wesley would put her outside, alone as punishment.