The foster mother of 3-year-old Indian girl Sherin Mathews found dead in a culvert in Dallas has been moved to a jail on a charge of abandoning a child.
Sini Ann Mathews and husband Wesley Mathews went out for dinner with their 3-year-old biological daughter October 6, the night before Sherin was reported missing by her adoptive father, accoriding to police.
Sherin's adoptive father, Wesley has already been arrested and charged with injury to a child, a felony charge. He is now in jail with a USD 1 million bond. The crime is punishable with up to 99 years in prison.
The couple from Kerala, allegedly left Sherin alone in the kitchen because she refused to drink her milk, police in Richardson, Texas said yesterday.
The 35-year-old mother was arrested yesterday when she turned herself in at the Richardson City Jail, escorted by her attorney.
She is being held on a charge of abandoning or endangering a child, a state jail felony. Bail has been set at County jail.
Through her attorneys, Sini has maintained her innocence.
The Richardson community is in shock.
"Im sure it wasnt the first time," said Richardson mother Shannon Adolph.
"She never came out to ask for help from the community while she was missing...something just wasnt right," Adolph said. -- PTI