Texas police find body of small child, believe it may be missing girl

RICHARDSON, Texas -- Police in Richardson, Texas, found the body of a small child Sunday morning, CBS Dallas/Fort Worth reports.

Police said they haven't confirmed the identity of the child, but they believe it likely belongs to missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews.

In a news conference, police said the body was discovered during search efforts for the missing girl.

Mathews has been missing since Oct. 7, and police said earlier this month that the young girl's parents were being uncooperative.

CBS Dallas/Fort Worth reports the adoptive father, 37-year-old Wesley Mathews, said he ordered his daughter to stand next to a tree behind the fence at their Richardson home at around 3 a.m. as punishment for not drinking her milk, according to an arrest affidavit. The tree is across an alley from the home.

Mathews went outside about 15 minutes later to check on her, but she was gone, the affidavit states. The child, who has a eating disability, was wearing leggings, a pink long-sleeved shirt and pink flip-flops.

The father didn't notify police that his daughter was missing until about five hours later, said Sgt. Kevin Perlich. He said the delay in reporting the matter "is certainly concerning to us."