Sherin Mathews: Dad Who Claims Girl Died By Choking On Milk Being Sued By Woman Who Says She’s ‘Disgusted’
A woman who was involved in a car accident with the adoptive father of deceased Richardson, Texas, girl Sherin Mathews is suing him over medical bills resulting from a car accident. Once she realized the man who crashed into her vehicle in 2015 was Wesley Mathews, she experienced feelings of shock and disgust.
Lateace Cook told CBS DFW that she’s not surprised that Mathews, who claims he watched Sherin choke and die, is the same man who rear-ended her as she sat at a yield sign. She stated that even though she was injured in the accident and indicated to him she was not “okay,” Mathews did not call 911 for help.
Cook told CBS DFW that instead, Mathews “continued to mess with his phone” and remained close to his vehicle so they had little interaction.
She said, “I am completely shocked and disgusted.”
According to Cook, her medical bills have been mounting, so she is asking for $100,000 to $200,000 in her lawsuit. Her attorney told CBS DFW that any damages recovered will be paid by Mathews’ insurance company. The suit is scheduled to be heard in court in February 2018.
Sherin’s lifeless body was found by a cadaver dog on Sunday, October 22, in a culvert not far from the girl’s family home. Her adoptive father, Mathews, 37, was arrested the next day and charged with injury to a child, a first-degree felony for which he could face five to 99 years behind bars if convicted. He is being held on $1,000,000 bond.
An arrest affidavit for Mathews indicates he told police that on October 7, he and Sherin were in the garage of the family home where he was trying to get her to drink milk. He said Sherin eventually began to drink the milk but he “physically assisted” her as she drank. He observed her choking, coughing, and said her “breathing slowed.” Mathews told police that “eventually” he couldn’t feel a pulse on Sherin and believed the little girl was dead. He also admitted moving her body from the family home.
This account differs from the initial story Mathews gave police the morning Sherin disappeared. At that time, he told authorities he had made Sherin stand outside by a tree at 3 a.m. as punishment for not drinking her milk. Mathews claimed that he went outside to check on her just 15 minutes later and she was gone. He was charged with child endangerment and bonded out of jail the next day.
Wesley Mathews transported to Dallas County Jail, placed on suicide watch https://t.co/AkNeNM9GSI pic.twitter.com/ahXkkju1HD
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) October 27, 2017
On Wednesday, October 25, Mathews was transferred in shackles from the Richardson Jail to a Dallas County jail on suicide watch, according to NBC DFW.
Sherin was adopted by Mathews and his wife in the summer of 2016 from India. The orphanage that cared for the little girl said she was found by passersby after being placed in some bushes as a baby, according to the Dallas Morning News.
The Mathewses’ 4-year-old daughter was removed from the home by Child Protective Services (CPS) shortly after the investigation regarding Sherin commenced. The Mathewses learned their biological daughter will remain in CPS custody, at least until a judge determines what will happen at a custodial hearing scheduled for November 13, according to the Tyler Morning Telegraph.
Anyone with information about the Sherin Mathews case can contact the Richardson Police Department at 972-744-4800.
[Featured Image by the Richardson Police Department]
