19 February 2024 , 20:58
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A man linked to the disappearance of Audrii Cunningham, 11, has a dark past including time behind bars for child enticement offences.
Don Steven McDougal was arrested earlier today and named as a "person of interest" by police. The swastika tattooed ex-con has a number of previous offences on his rap sheet, with the most recent an assault charge which police booked him for earlier this week. He has not been charged or arrested in relation to Audrii's disappearance.
Previous offences
McDougal does however boast a grim list of previous offences dating back to 2001, including child enticement, which is when an adult 'invites or persuades, or attempts to invite or persuade, a child under the age of 15 years to enter any vehicle, building, room or secluded place with the intent to commit sexual assault or unlawful sexual contact upon the said child'. Audrii's mother, Cassie Mathews, believes McDougal and the child's father are living together. Audrii was not seen boarding a school bus nor at school, prompting concerns for her whereabouts last Thursday, February 15.
READ MORE: Missing Audrii Cunningham person of interest Don McDougal seen being arrested after girl, 11, vanished
McDougal was seen boasting of his swastika tattoo in social media posts (Facebook)Audrii's disappearance
She had been dropped off at the bus stop by her father Joshua Cunningham and has not been seen since. It was heard McDougal was often put in charge of looking after the now missing 11-year-old when the dad went to work, something the mum has only now found out since her daughter's disappearance. In 2008, McDougal was found guilty of two counts of child enticement and sentenced to two years in prison for each.
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Police had found a backpack believed to belong to Audrii close to Lake Livingston on Friday alongside other items believed to be owned by the youngster. Previous footage showed McDougal being approached by police and then arrested. His history of crimes also included charges of theft and evading arrest, according to Fox26. Authorities are now searching for a blue Chevrolet Suburban connected to the disappearance.
Audrii has been missing since February 15, with a hunt for a blue Chevrolet underway (KHOU)Swastika tattoo
The vehicle belongs to McDougal, who has since been taken into police custody. He had previously been pictured proudly displaying a swastika tattoo - the symbol of the evil Nazi regime - on his upper right arm. A public profile owned by McDougal showed him shirtless in front of a red truck with a swastika tattoo still on his arm. No posts have been made to the account since early 2020.
Speaking of her daughter's disappearance, mum Cassie said: "'She has so many opportunities ahead of her and deserves every right to reach those opportunities. She should be at home where we know she's safe, and she's warm, and she's fed, and she should be with her little brother. She should be doing what Audrii does — smiling, laughing, making everybody else smile and laugh."
Don had allegedly been in charge of looking after Audrii when living at the child's father's house (Facebook)In a separate interview, she said: "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. I am not going to be the same unless my baby is returned to me and neither is her family, any of us, any of her friends, any of the people that she has been connected to in the community."
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. Cassie believes McDougal is friends with Audrii's father and had been living on their land with them where he looked after the 11-year-old.
Neighbour's fears
(Facebook)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. 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."
Lieutenant Cummings from the Texas Department of Public Safety said that McDougal 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.
Don McDougal has been linked to the disappearance of Audrii Cunningham, 11 (KHOU)Neighbour 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.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
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.