Sherin Mathews: Attorney For Mom Of Missing Girl Put Outside For Not Drinking Milk Says She’s ‘Distraught’

Sherin Mathews, 3, has been missing since Saturday, and authorities are working diligently to find the little girl. On Wednesday, an attorney for Sherin’s mother spoke to reporters at a news conference, saying his client is “distraught” over the toddler’s disappearance.

Attorney Kent Starr arrived at the family’s Richardson, Texas, home and then offered reporters waiting outside a brief statement about Sherin’s case and her mother’s state of mind, according to NBC 5.

Starr said Sherin’s mother, Sini Mathews, has “previously participated with the Richardson Police Department” and is “distraught over the loss of her daughter, Sherin Mathews.” He continued by saying the child’s mother does not know where Sherin is and just wants her to be returned home.

The attorney explained that Sherin’s mother has retained legal counsel because her 4-year-old biological daughter has been removed from the Mathews home by Texas Child Protective Services (CPS). Starr noted that all Sini Mathews wants is to be reunited with Sherin and her biological daughter.

The Mathews adopted Sherin about 18 months ago from India after having trouble conceiving, CBS 11 reports.

Starr further told reporters that just because Wesley Mathews, his client’s husband, has been accused of a crime “is not indicative of Ms. Mathews… There’s [sic] been no accusations of wrongdoing against Ms. Mathews.”

Wesley Mathews, 37, was arrested on October 7 by Richardson police and charged with endangering or abandoning a child. The arrest warrant affidavit indicates he told police that at about 3 a.m. early Saturday morning, he took Sherin outside and told her to stand close to a large tree that was located near the family’s backyard, according to CBS 19. Mathews alleges that around 15 minutes later he went to check on Sherin and she was gone. Despite this, Sherin was not reported missing until around 8 a.m., about five hours later.

Attorney Kent Starr just walked up to Mathews' home, had to call to have someone come to door, will speak after, he said. #SherinMathews pic.twitter.com/akWscZ4mHi

— Maria Guerrero (@Maria_NBC5) October 11, 2017

The tree in question is behind a fence and is located across an alley about 100 feet from the family’s residence, according to the Dallas Morning News. The affidavit also states that Mathews informed police that coyotes have been seen on several occasions in the alley near where he told Sherin to stand.

When Starr was asked by the press why Sini Mathews had not spoken publicly, he replied, “The mere fact that you do not hear from a person who’s mourning… some individuals mourn differently.”

He added that her silence is “not indicative of anything.”

Another question asked of Starr was how his client is doing at present, and he answered, “She’s distraught… They adopted Sherin, they love Sherin,” adding the child has an “eating disorder.”

One reporter queried as to whether Sini Mathews was standing by her husband, prompting Starr to note she has spoken to the police and has been cooperative with law enforcement.

Just days ago, a spokesperson for CPS stated the family has had contact with the agency in the past but did not divulge details as to why, according to CBS 11. At Wednesday’s news conference, Starr was asked if either of Sherin’s parents had ever hurt the little girl, and he replied, “Absolutely not.”

When the inquiring reporter noted that CPS had dealings with the Mathews family in the past, Starr stated he could not discuss that.

On Tuesday evening the FBI’s evidence recovery team converged on Sherin’s home and conducted a search of the premises. A Facebook post by the Richardson Police Department states that this search was “part of a natural progression of the investigation.”

https://www.facebook.com/RichardsonPD/photos/a.169404199810233.44588.123869457697041/1490486681035305/?type=3

On the night of October 8, Sherin’s father posted $250,000 bond and was released from custody, according to the Dallas Morning News. On Tuesday, it was reported that as part of his release, Mathews is required to wear an electronic monitoring device and surrender his passport.

Authorities indicate that Sherin suffers from developmental issues and her verbal communication skills are limited.

Sherin was last seen on October 7, 2017, wearing a pink long-sleeve top, black pajama bottoms, and pink flip-flop sandals. She is described as being an Asian female who weighs around 22 pounds and is approximately three feet in height. Sherin has black hair and brown eyes.

The Richardson Police Department is urging anyone with any information about Sherin or her whereabouts to call 972-744-4800.

[Featured Image by The Richardson Police Department]