Slightly more than a month after police discovered the body of Indian-American toddler Sherin Mathews in a culvert not even a mile from her family’s home in Richardson, TX, her mother appeared in court seeking a reduction of the $250,000 bond that has been in effect since her arrest on November 18. On Monday, a Dallas County judge reduced the bail amount for Sini Mathews to $100,000, several news organizations have reported.
Prosecutors contested the bond reduction for Mathews. She was arrested, charged and jailed in Dallas County for felony child endangerment or abandonment, which carries a maximum two-year prison term if she is convicted.
Law enforcement agencies arrested the 35-year-old mother after gathering evidence that demonstrated that Sini Mathews, along with her husband Wesley Mathews, left three-year-old Sherin home alone while they dined at a North Garland restaurant on the evening of October 6. The following morning, her 37-year-old husband called the police and reported the toddler missing.
Prosecutors called mother ‘wicked’ and flight risk
During Monday’s bond reduction hearing, prosecutors characterized Sini Mathews as “wicked,” a statement that evolved from the arrest affidavit – citing cell phone and financial records showing that the parents dined out without their toddler daughter, but did take their biological daughter to dinner.
Her choice to leave Sherin home that evening, exemplifies “depravity,” according to the prosecutors and CBS News (Dallas-Fort Worth).
Detective Jules Farmer, Richardson Police Department, testified that the toddler’s mother sought medical records for Sherin’s slightly older sister, FOX 4 noted. Mathews wanted her daughter’s shot records to reportedly take her to India.
Prosecutors asserted that she is a flight risk.
Mitch Nolte, Sini Mathews’ criminal defense lawyer, disputed the prosecutions’ claim while acknowledging that she did “inquire” about her little girl’s records. He stated that she didn’t arrange to leave the United States and already “surrendered her passport,” CBS reported. He also said the idea of his client obtaining a fraudulent passport was “ridiculous” considering that she is, as Nolte conveyed, a mother and a nurse.
Judge lowered bond but ordered ankle monitor and house arrest
The judge determined that it was acceptable to lower Mathews’ bond and cut the amount by more than half of the $250,000 originally set. If the bond is posted, which Nolte stated is possible, she will have to wear a GPS electronic ankle monitoring device and live under house arrest.
If Mathews is released on bond at this time, there is a standing order that she does not have communication or contact with “any minor child,” which includes her own daughter. According to Dallas County criminal court records, she is not permitted either direct or indirect communication with “any member of the victim’s family” – that includes Sherin’s four-year-old sister.
Her husband also remains in custody at Dallas County Jail. His bond is set at $1 million. He faces a felony child abandonment or endangerment charge after allegedly watching Sherin Mathews die. According to Mathews, the toddler choked on milk, she appeared dead, and he removed her from the family’s home.
Richardson police are still awaiting the outcome of the medical examiner’s findings based on the autopsy of the toddler and toxicology tests. Police had stated earlier, pending the outcome, charges may be modified.
