Missing Audrii Cunningham person of interest Don McDougal seen being arrested after girl, 11, vanished

19 February 2024 , 17:57

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Don Steven McDougal was arrested by police who named him as a person of interest in Audrii's disappearance (Image: FOX 26)

A video of person of interest Don Steven McDougal has been published, appearing to show his arrest the day after the mysterious disappearance of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham.

Audrii has been missing since February 15, with an Amber Alert warning sent out a day after her absence was reported. Don Steven McDougal, 42, who was arrested on an unconnected aggravated assault charge, is involved in the missing persons case. Police investigating the disappearance say Audrii was supposed to board a bus near to her home but was not seen on the vehicle or at school the same day.

Investigators believe McDougal's dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban was used in the suspected kidnapping of the 11-year-old and they asked people to look out for it. He has since been arrested and named as a person of interest in the disappearance.

On Saturday, Texas Department of Safety officials announced they had found the girl's backpack near a dam at Lake Livingston.

The clip can be seen in this YouTube video, about 45 seconds in:

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Authorities are yet to confirm McDougal's connection to the case though Audrii's mother Cassie says McDougal is friends with Audrii's father. She claimed McDougal would live on the property with them and babysit the 11-year-old occasionally, per Fox26 A neighbour has since claimed they saw McDougal at the property.

Denise Kolojaco said: "I went there one day, and he was there. It was a hi and bye situation, so I don't know." The neighbour also recalled the last time they saw Audrii, adding: "That would have been Valentine's Day. She was walking by, giving my dog love, and I told her happy Valentine's Day."

READ MORE: Audrii Cunningnham missing: 'Empty' mom in desperate plea after daughter, 11, disappears

Audrii was last seen on February 15, with her school confirming she was not present for lessons (KHOU)

Lieutenant Cummings from the Texas Department of Public Safety said that McDougal, from Livingston, is the main suspect in Audrii's disappearance. McDougal was caught on Friday for a different serious attack charge.

Fox26 reports that, even though he hasn't been charged in the case of Audrii's disappearance, detectives think something bad has happened. McDougal has a long list of past crimes starting from 2001, as shown by court records. His crimes range from theft to evading, including in 2008, two counts of enticement of a child.. Court papers show McDougal was given two years for each crime.

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Don Steven McDougal (KHOU)

The police haven't confirmed McDougal's link to the case. But Audrii's mum, Cassie Matthews, thinks McDougal is friends with Audrii's dad. She says Audrii's dad let McDougal live on their land with them and look after Audrii, all things she only found out after her daughter went missing.

Denise Kolojaco said she always used to see Audrii walk to the bus stop every morning at 7am and the little girl would stop to pet her dogs but on Thursday morning, the little girl did not walk by.

Audrii's family says she left for the bus stop at 7am on the Thursday and the walk between the little girl's home to the bus stop is just over half a mile, with Kolojaco's home being at just about halfway. This has sparked fears that she disappeared somewhere between her home and Kolojaco's.

Cassie Matthews previously spoke out on the disappearance of her daughter, saying: "We would like to have her come home, it's not like her to just run off or disappear, she has a lot of loving family, she has so many people that love her and adore her. We have no leads so we are grasping at any string, any signs, anything in general."

Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog

Don Steven McDougal's Chevrolet car (FOX 26)

Mr Cummings said: "I want to say that we are hopeful that we can bring Audrii home alive and that is what we are absolutely working for right now. Based on the evidence that we've got we understand foul play is a factor as well." The girl was last seen on Lakeside Drive wearing a black hoodie with white lettering, black pants, black high-top tennis shoes and a bright "Hello Kitty" backpack. Audrii is 4'1" and has blonde hair and blue eyes, weighing about 75 pounds.

Audrii has not been seen since Thursday (FOX 26)

Matthews added: "Hard is an understatement, this is the stuff you see on TV and you can only imagine what the family and the parents are going through and there’s not words for it. There is not one feeling you feel, it's a roller coaster, you are broken, you are mad, you are empty and right now I am empty. She has so many opportunities ahead of her, and she deserves every right to be able to reach those opportunities."

Ewan Gleadow