DALLAS (AP) — The father of a missing toddler whose body was found in a culvert under a road in suburban Dallas now says the girl choked to death on milk in the family's garage after earlier claiming she wandered off in the middle of the night when he sent her outside as punishment for not drinking her milk, authorities said.

Wesley Mathews reported 3-year-old Sherin Mathews missing on Oct. 7 and searchers with cadaver dogs found her body Sunday. Richardson police said Tuesday that the Dallas County medical examiner's office used dental records to identify the body as that of the child.

Police...