Grief, Anger In US’ Richardson After Indian Girl’s Death

The Richardson community in the United States (US) was mourning the death of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl whose foster father has claimed that she choked while drinking milk, with many people asking why he did not wake his nurse wife up when the child was struggling to breathe.

Sherin, who had developmental issues and limited verbal communication skills, was confirmed dead by US police yesterday (24 October) after over two weeks of investigation. She was missing since 7 October.

Wesley Mathews, 37, the father of Sherin, told the police that his daughter choked while drinking milk and he removed her body from the house as he "believed she had died".

He was re-arrested and charged with first-degree felony injury to a child due to a conflicting statement to police.

The arrest came a day after the body of a small child was found in a culvert near their home in suburban Dallas.

While the cause of her death was still being probed, the community and neighbourhoods all across Texas are shocked, heartbroken, angry and mourning her death.

Wesley's wife Sini Mathews, who is a registered nurse and could have helped her, was reportedly sleeping in her room.

"All these lies, first punishing the girl and putting her under tree, later choking her in a garage at 3 AM for not drinking milk, does not add up. It is heartbreaking and shocking," said a teary-eyed resident Diana.

"It will be another story soon, when police will find the actual cause of the death," she said.

Another neighbour, Barbara Diamond Johnson, asked:

“I'm normally quiet about such things. But as a paediatric nurse and the mother of a child who aspirated, you don't just say, 'Oops they died' You call 911! You run screaming for anyone to help you. I'm sorry, this is more fishy than leaving her by a tree. RIP sweet girl, no one will hurt you any more.”

Since Sunday, heavy hearts joined in song and prayer for the little girl found in the culvert.

Over the past two weeks, Sherin brought the whole community together in the suburb, as countless volunteers searched in and around Richardson hoping to find her.

Sunday evening, many gathered for a prayer vigil a few hours after learning of the heartbreaking developments. It was not the first time music and prayer filled the air in the 900 block of Sunningdale in Richardson.

Meanwhile, Richardson police are sharing new details into their ongoing investigation into the disappearance and death of Sherin. (PTI)