Indian girl found dead in US: Foster parents lose right to see biological daughter

In a recent court hearing, a judge ruled against the foster parents of deceased 3-year-old Sherin Mathews, stripping off their rights to see their 4-year-old biological daughter for now. Three-year-old Sherin was reported missing on October 7 and later found dead about 1 km from her home in suburban Dallas on October 22 during an ongoing search for her.

Sherin was adopted by Wesley and Sini Mathews, an Indian-American couple, from an orphanage in India last year. Wesley, 37 and Sini Mathews, 35, lost custody of their biological child soon after Sherin went missing.

The Mathews couple was attempting to retain the visitation rights for their 4-year-old biological daughter after Sherin's death. As per a recent court hearing, the couple has now been denied to see their biological child on as they were deemed unfit as parents owing to what happened to Sherin. The 4-year-old will remain to live with her relatives outside Houston. A hearing to determine a permanent cutoff of parental rights will likely take place in 2018.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

In the meanwhile, the couple is still entitled to a civil trial and has not lost parental rights, however, they will not receive help from the state to regain custody of their daughter. They remain in detention in Dallas County jail.

The Richardson Police Department in the US state of Texas and the FBI continue to investigate the toddler's death. The cause of death has not yet been determined by the medical examiner's office.
Wesley was arrested and charged with felony injury to a child, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison.

Sini, who is behind bars on child endangerment charges, had her bond reduced from USD 250,000 to USD 100,000.

Sini Mathews was arrested on charges of child endangerment after the death of Sherin. Investigators reported the fact that Sini had left Sherin home alone while she went for dinner along with rest of her family; Sherin was reported missing the following day. Wesley Mathews, on the other hand, is facing more serious charges of inflicting injury to a child. Police confirmed Wesley confessing to them that Sherin died choking on milk that he forced her to drink and also admitted to moving her body.

A series of testimonies offered by a doctor, a police detective and a CPS investigator unearthed more facts revolving around Sherin's upbringing and her treatment by the Mathews couple. According to CPS investigator Kelly Mitchell, the couple had a different connection with Sherin than they had with their biological daughter. While all slept in one bedroom, Sherin slept in a crib in the same room, he added.

Jules Farmer of Richardson police, the lead detective on the case discussed Wesley's statements to police. He revealed that Wesley got frustrated when Sherin wouldn't or couldn't drink her milk and so he forced her to drink and she choked. "He said he was holding her when she died, stroking her because she was cold and he was trying to warm her up. He said he wrapped her in a blanket and put her in the culvert -- though he intended to return to give her a proper burial," Farmer was quoted by an AFP report.

The couple invoked their Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and has refused to answer questions throughout the hearing.

(With inputs from PTI)