A Dallas grand jury indicated 39-year-old Wesley Mathews on capital murder charges last year, after an official autopsy report revealed his adopted daughter, 3-year-old Sherin Mathews, died from homicidal violence.

Testimony continues Tuesday in a Dallas courtroom.

The case gained national attention after Mathews claimed he put the little girl outside at 3 a.m. as punishment for not drinking her milk on October 7, 2017. Mathews claimed he spotted coyotes in the alley close to the family home, yet, decided to wait five hours before calling for help.

He later changed his story and said he “forcefully” helped her drink her milk, which caused her to choke and die, according to police.

On October 22, 2017, authorities found Sherin’s lifeless body in culvert close to East Spring Valley Road, near Richardson. She was wrapped in a garbage bag.

Last week and shortly before his capital murder trial began, Mathews entered what’s known as a “slow plea,”meaning he has formally admitted to a crime, but doesn’t agree with prosecutors on the punishment. The jury will be allowed to choose Mathews’ punishment instead.

Mathews pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of injury to a child by omission, which could result in anything from probation to life behind bars. Prosecutors declined to push for the death penalty in the case.

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[Feature Photo: Sherin Mathews/ Handout]