The body of a small child has been found during the search for a missing 3-year-old girl, Richardson police announced Sunday.

Police said they had not yet confirmed that the body is that of Sherin Mathews, who has been missing since Oct. 7. Officers had blocked off an area near Spring Valley and Bowser roads, east of Central Expressway. The location is near the girl's home.

Police indicated they have no reason to believe the body of a different child had ben found, but they are still awaiting positive identification.

Police confirmd the body was found in a culvert beneath a road about 11 a.m. Sunday with the help of search dogs. Police have not released any details about how the child died.

Sherin Mathew's father, Wesley Mathews, was charged with abandoning or endangering a child after Sherin went missing. He was released from jail after posting bond and was required to wear an electronic monitoring device and surrender his passport as part of his bond conditions.

Mathews, 37, told police he put Sherin in an alley near their house where coyotes previously had been spotted to punish her after she wouldn't drink her milk around 3 a.m., according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Mathews went to check on Sherin about 3:15 a.m. When he didn't find her he went inside to wait for it to get lighter outside to continue searching, or for her to return on her own. As he waited, he did laundry, Sgt. Kevin Perlich said