Sherin Mathews' body bore marks of injury, says doctor
More than a month after three-year-old Indian-origin child Sherin Mathews was found dead in Texas, a doctor has informed a court that her body bore injury marks. X-rays showed a broken femur, tibia and elbow, injuries that seemed to be inflicted after she was adopted from India, said a child abuse expert. Sherin's adoptive parents continue to remain behind bars. Follow the case here.
Sherin's disappearance and the recovery of her body
At 3am on October 7, her father Wesley Mathews claimed to have sent Sherin, who had developmental issues, out of the house to punish her for not drinking milk. He asked her to stand in the backyard. When he went to check in on her 15 minutes later, he couldn't find her. On October 23, cops recovered her body in an underground tunnel.
Both the foster parents arrested later
Wesley later changed his story: he said she choked on her milk and he disposed of her body. He was arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury. Bail was set at $1mn. Then cops arrested Sini, Sherin's foster mother, for abandoning/endangering a child: on the fateful day, the couple had gone out for dinner, leaving her alone at home. Bail's been fixed at $100,000.
They are now fighting for custody of their biological daughter
Both parents are now fighting for custody of their four-year-old biological daughter, who's currently staying with relatives in Houston. At the hearing, child abuse expert Susan Dakil testified that Sherin's injuries were visible in X-rays taken in September'16 and February'17. In February, fractures in her tibia and femur were in healing. Dakil said she was likely injured on separate occasions, but couldn't say when.
Hearing to continue next week
At the court, both Sini and Wesley invoked their right not to incriminate themselves. The hearing will resume from December 5. Two more witnesses are scheduled to testify. Wesley is expected to either give up his parental rights of his biological daughter or have them taken away by the state. The couple had adopted Sherin from an Indian orphanage last year.
