The mortal remains of 3-year-old Sherin Mathews adopted from India, have been sent to a funeral home by the US authorities, Fox News reports.
A spokesman for the Dallas County Medical Examiner said Sherin’s body was released on Saturday but did not say who has custody of the body.
It is also not clear if Sherin's foster mother Sini Mathews will have a role in handling the funeral arrangements.
Sherin’s body was found 16 days after she was declared missing. Her body was recovered from a culvert on October 22nd and a day later, Sherin's foster father, Wesley Mathews, surrendered before the local police allegedly admitting that he removed her body from home after she choked on milk.
37-year-old Wesly has been charged with Injury to the Child with bond set at USD 1 million.
Mathews initially told police that he had asked the little girl to stand outside near a tree at 3 am on October 7 as punishment for not drinking her milk.
A day after the girl’s body was found, he told the police he tried to "physically assist" Sherin in drinking her milk, but she choked on it and died. He then admitted to removing her body from home.
Sherin's foster mother, Sini, has denied any role in the girl's death and says she is cooperating in the investigation.
But Richardson police say Sini Mathews has not been as cooperative as she has said, the Fox News report said.
The couple's 4-year-old biological daughter is in Child Protective Services custody.
Indian community holds vigil for toddler
A candle light vigil was held on Saturday at the Indian Association of North Texas in Richardson, NBC Dallas reported.
The vigil was attended by Indian community leaders in North Texas, as well as a member of the Consulate General of India in Houston.
Mr Anupam Ray, a representative of CGI in Houston told Fox News that Sherin’s life was a “tragedy.”
“A lot of people failed her, so it’s time for us to pray for her, get together and hope that, you know just pray that nothing like this happens again in our community,” he said.
