Amber Alert for missing Richardson girl discontinued due to lack of new leads

An Amber Alert was discontinued Monday afternoon for a missing 3-year-old girl from Richardson due to a lack of new leads.

Sherin Mathews was last seen around 3 a.m. Saturday. Her father, Wesley Mathews, has been arrested and charged with child endangerment. He was able to post the $25,000 bond and get out of jail Sunday night.

Richardson police said the end of the alert does is not an indication of the current condition of the child, rather that tips have dried up and officials can’t justify keeping the alert active. New information could reactivate the alert.

Wesley Mathews was arrested Saturday for abandoning or endangering a child. Police say they’ve exhausted the search in the area near the family’s home, where Mathews told investigators he left her. The arrest affidavit states: “He directed his daughter to stand near a large tree at 3 a.m. because she wouldn’t drink her milk.”

Documents go on to state that 15 minutes later: “he went back to the spot and she was gone.”

Police say Wesley and his wife waited until 8 a.m. to report her missing. The affidavit also states Wesley told police: “He knew coyotes had been seen in the alley where he left his daughter.”

"Trying to uncover any type of clues or leads we might have there that could point us in a specific direction,” said Richardson PD Sgt. Kevin Kerlich.

A neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, says the Mathews had trouble conceiving their first child, a 4-year-old girl. She has since been removed from the home by CPS. He says the couple adopted Sherin, who has developmental issues and limited communication skills.

Investigators say they've exhausted the search in and around her home and are now searching the family's three cars that were towed Saturday. They’re also looking at the parents' phones and computers and talking to local sex offenders.

"And we've expanded that search to sex offenders outside the immediate vicinity and kind of expanded that search and went a little bit wider,” Perlich explained.

Detectives wonder if there is something Sherin's adopted father is not telling them.

"He's the last person to have seen her, at least to have reportedly seen her,” the detective said. “So we're working off what he has told us."

The mother's uncle, Philip Mathew, showed up to offer support Monday night and get some answers, saying the parents are believers and good people.

CPS says they’ve had previous contact with the family but could not elaborate, citing privacy concerns.

Anyone with information on Sherin’s whereabouts is urged to contact police.