22 February 2024 , 21:14
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As an 11-year-old girls' lifeless body was pulled from a river, tied to a rock, questions have been raised about how she ended up there, and how the search for a missing girl became a murder investigation.
Audrii Cunningham, from Livingston, Texas, disappeared sometime after 7am on Thursday, February 15. She was supposed to catch the bus to school at her neighbourhood stop, but according to school officials, she was never picked up and never reported to school.
The blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl's body was finally found on Tuesday, February 20, in the Trinity River near Livingston after a frantic search for the young girl that involved dive teams scouring the river as local river authorities slowed the outflow of Lake Livingstone to help. The grim discovery of the girl's body found tied to a rock, ended a six-day search that saw a friend of her dad's identified as a person of interest.
Audrii Cunningham, 11, disappeared five days ago when her dad dropped her off a the school bus stop (Facebook)Don Steven McDougal, 42, lived in a trailer on Audrii's family's property and had numerous prior interactions with her. When she was reported missing, he took part in the initial search before he was arrested last Friday on an unrelated charge.
With so much to unpack in a truly disturbing and heartbreaking case, we took a closer look at everything we know about Audrii Cunningham, Don Steven McDougal, and Audrii's disappearance.
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Who was Audrii Cunningham
Audrii Cunningham was a regular 11-year-old girl from east Texas. But her young life was sadly cut short after she disappeared on the way to school.
At a vigil for the young girl, family and friends gathered to remember the bright, friendly child near the river where her body was found. Her aunt, Brenda Cedars said: "No matter where she went or who she met, she just made them light up.
"She could always make you laugh, no matter what kind of mood you were in. It just isn't fair that we all got robbed of that."
Audrii's mum Cassie Matthews (KPRC2)Audrii's mum, Cassie Matthews, told those at the memorial that her pain had left her lost for words as she described her daughter as "perfection". She said: "I'm at a loss for words most of the time, other than the fact that I am beyond blessed to have been able to give birth to something that is - she was perfection.
"And you know, as a parent, we're all pretty biased that we think our kids are perfect, but it just is what it is. But I'm truly blessed to have given birth to such an amazing little girl."
Audrii was known for making friends easily, and according to Kasey Evans, whose daughter attended school with her, she was "friendly, very nice, and very caring."
Audrii's disappearance, search and body found
An Amber Alert was issued on Thursday, February 15, for Audrii after she failed to return home from school. Her family said she had left for the bus stop at 7am that morning, but it was later discovered that she had never boarded the bus or been registered as having arrived at school.
The next day, February 16, Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and other law enforcement agencies searched Lake Livingston. On February 17, Texas DPS released an image of a 2003 blue Chevrolet Suburban believed to be a vehicle of interest.
Don Steven McDougal has been charged over her murder (Polk County Sheriff's Office)That same day they also announced they'd found a bright red Hello Kitty backpack they believed to be Audrii's near a river. Later that day, Don Steven McDougal was declared a person of interest.
Officials say he was a friend of Audrii's father and allowed to live in a trailer behind their house. He was arrested on Friday, February 16, for an unrelated aggravated assault charge. The next day, a video showed McDougal being questioned by Officers in Livingston.
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Audrii was dropped off at a bus stop but never made it to school (Facebook)On February 19, McDougal admitted to Polk County officials he had left the house with Audrii the morning she went missing. Just a day later, Tuesday February 20, Audrii's body was found dead in the Trinity River on US Highway 59 near Livingston. McDougal was charged with Capital Murder.
Who is Don Steven McDougal?
McDougal was a family friend who lived on Audrii's family's property and even took part in the search for her after she was declared missing. Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said during a search to find Audrii, McDougal went round the neighbourhood, knocking on doors and asking people if they'd seen the young girl.
"To me, it simply tells me is that he's trying to give the appearances that he has no play or he's not at fault in her disappearance and that [he's] part of the concerned parties who're trying to locate her," said Sheriff Lyons. In a press conference, the Sheriff said McDougal was supposed to take Audrii to the bus stop on Thursday morning, and he was the last person to see her before she disappeared.
McDougal showing off a swastika tattoo (Facebook)
Audrii Cunningham was last seen alive on Thursday, February 15 (FOX 26)Living on her family's property, McDougal had numerous previous interactions with Audrii, and had previously taken her to the bus stop or even driven her to school if she missed the bus, according to the sheriff. McDougal told investigators he had left the Cunningham's home with Audrii that morning, but refused to say if he had dropped her off at the bus stop.
In the days following Audrii's disappearance, McDougal claimed in several social media comments he was not guilty and had "done nothing wrong", according to activity on a Facebook account appearing to belong to the suspect. A comment from the account on a True Crime Facebook page reads: "I was there and was questioned. I am not running or hiding.
"I have done everything I can to help find her. I have done nothing wrong."
Police found the girl's body in a nearby river (Fox 26)However, when police stopped McDougal in his car, they found rope which was later identified as being similar to the rope used to tie Audrii to the large rock which was thrown into the river with her. Authorities have also used cell phone data and video footage to place him in three key areas related to the investigation, including one near the area where Audrii's body was found.
McDougal has an extensive criminal history, including a charge of enticing a child. His criminal history dates back to at least 2003 with convictions for violent crimes on his record, according to court records in several counties across Texas.
His conviction of enticing a child dates back to a 2007 incident in Brazoria County, Texas. According to court records, he pleaded no contest and was sentenced to two years in prison, but was given credit for 527 days.
Police are still looking for McDougal's car - a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban (FOX 26)The offence of enticing a child is defined by the State of Texas as "the intent to interfere with the lawful custody of a child younger than 18 years" when a person "entices, persuades, or takes the child from the custody of the parent or guardian."
He was convicted in 2010 and 2019 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to the victim in the 2010 aggravated assault, McDougal attacked his former coworker after being thrown out of his house.