Sherin Mathews' Doctor Called CPS Over Bone Fractures

DALLAS, TX — In a Wednesday hearing, prosecutors pressed Sini Mathews and a pediatrician about allegations of bone fractures seen in X-rays of Sherin Mathews from earlier this year.

Sini aims to regain custody of her biological daughter, 4, but remains in Dallas County Jail at this time. Sini said she intends to see her daughter in supervised CPS visitations if she posts bond. Her husband, Wesley Mathews, is expected to surrender his parental rights.

Sini took to the witness stand first, but invoked her fifth amendment right to not incriminate herself many times during questioning. One exception came when she was asked if she is trained a nurse — to which she responded, "yes." When Wesley took the stand, he opted to invoke his fifth amendment right as well and answered no questions pertaining to Sherin's death or disappearance.

Prosecution pressed Sini about former CPS involvement, alleging Sherin formerly had a broken femur, elbow and tibia, but she pleaded the fifth and did not confirm the allegations.

The prosecution called to the stand a pediatrician and child abuse expert, Dr. Suzanne Dakil of Referral and Evaluation of At Risk Children Clinic, who testified that the injuries were visible in various X-ray scans taken in September 2016 and February 2017. Dakil said the scans suggest the injuries were inflicted after Sherin was adopted from India.

The X-rays from February showed that fractures in Sherin's tibia and femur were in different stages of healing, WFAA reported. The pattern of injuries lead Dakil to believe Sherin was injured on separate occasions, but Dakil could not say when they occurred. The doctor filed a report with Child Protective Services after seeing the X-rays, the station reported.

The hearing ended for the week around 4:00 p.m., but will continue Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 9:00 a.m. Two more witnesses are scheduled to take the stand.

Sini was arrested Thursday, Nov. 16 on a charge of Abandoning or Endangering a Child. A probable cause affidavit detailing events leading up to Sini's arrest states that by leaving Sherin alone at the home, Sini and Wesley placed their adopted daughter "in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment." Sini's bond was reduced Monday to $100,000, and she will be released from jail if she posts bond.

Wednesday's hearing marked the third time the Mathews have appeared in court to ask for custody of the daughter. An Oct. 23 custody hearing for the child was postponed to Nov. 13 to give Wesley time to obtain a civil attorney, but he was arrested the following day. The judge then rescheduled the Nov. 13 hearing for Wednesday.

Images via Richardson Police Department