"Insufficient evidence" to suggest Sherin's adoptive parents abused her: report

In a new twist in the Sherin Mathews' case, US child protection authorities say they have found "insufficient evidence" if the deceased Indian toddler was physically abused by her adoptive mother and blamed "an unknown perpetrator" for her injuries, prior to her adoption.

Sherin, 3, was found dead in mysterious circumstances in a culvert in Richardson, in suburban Dallas, Texas, on October 22, two weeks after her Indian-American foster parents reported her missing.

Her adoptive father, Wesley Mathews originally told police he had left Sherin outside the home at 3 am to punish her for not drinking her milk. Then he changed his statement and said Sherin had choked on her milk while he tried to feed her in the garage.

He also admitted the family had gone out to dinner that night and left Sherin home alone.

An autopsy report released in January this year revealed that Sherin died of "homicidal violence."
The CPS said it found "insufficient evidence to determine if the deceased child was physically abused by her mother."
The CPS contacted medical officials, who "stated there were no concerns about the previous injury because the story was consistent with the child falling off the couch."
The report said "although there were no concerns regarding the child's previous injuries, the new injuries were not consistent with the explanation given."