Audrii Cunningham: Body of missing Texas girl, 11, found in Trinity river as suspect faces murder charges
LIVINGSTON, TEXAS: Authorities announced on Tuesday, February 20 that they found the body of the missing 11-year-old girl Audrii Cunningham.
Dive teams discovered Audrii's body in the Trinity River under US Highway 59, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said during a press conference. Sheriff Lyons mentioned that an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death, reports Law&Crime.
Don Steven McDougal to face murder charges
The suspect, Don Steven McDougal, age 42, was arrested on Saturday. He will face charges of capital murder, according to Polk County District Attorney Shelly Bush-Sitton.
McDougal is currently in jail for an unrelated aggravated assault charge.
What happened to Audrii Cunningham?
Audrii Cunningham was last seen at around 7 am on Thursday, February 17 in Livingston, about 80 miles northeast of Houston. She was supposed to catch the bus to school but never did. Her family called the police after she didn't get off the bus after school.
The Texas Department of Public Safety issued an Amber Alert for her, describing her as an abducted child. She was wearing a black hoodie with black lettering, a backpack, black pants, and black high-top tennis shoes. She also had a bright red, Hello Kitty-styled backpack with her when she disappeared. School officials confirmed that she never made it to school.
On Saturday, detectives focused on a 2003 blue Chevrolet Suburban, which belonged to McDougal. Sheriff Lyons told reporters that cellphone location data and other evidence led investigators to Audrii's body.
McDougal was believed to be the last person to see Audrii alive, but he wasn't very cooperative with detectives.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810 or Polk County Crime Stoppers at 936-327-STOP.
Crime Stoppers had offered a $10,000 reward, but it's unclear if the money will be given out.
Suspect Don Steven McDougal has extensive criminal history
Don Steven McDougal, who is the person of interest in Audrrii Cunningham’s death, has a lengthy history of criminal offenses dating back to 2001.
According to Fox26Houston, In 2001, he was arrested by the Cleveland Police Department for possession of marijuana.
In 2002, he was sentenced to five years for assaulting a public servant. In 2003, he received a four-month sentence for possession of a dangerous drug, followed by a three-year sentence on February 23, 2003, for assaulting a public servant in Liberty County.
He was also charged with possession of marijuana in July of the same year.
In September 2005, he was arrested in Harris County and charged with evading arrest or detention.
On February 7, 2006, he was sentenced to eight months for theft of property valued between $1,500 and $20,000, and on February 15, 2006, he received a 180-day sentence for possession of methamphetamine weighing less than 1 gram.
On March 31, 2007, he was sentenced to two years for enticing a child in Brazoria County.
In July 2009, he was sentenced to 180 days for unauthorized use of a vehicle in Harris County.
On February 6, 2010, he was arrested and later sentenced to four years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Harris County.
On September 10, 2020, he was sentenced to two years for unauthorized use of a vehicle in Liberty County. He was released on September 12, 2022, upon completing his sentence.
On April 13, 2014, he was arrested and sentenced to 30 days for theft of property valued at less than $500. In July 2014, he was arrested and sentenced to 30 days for reckless driving. In 2019, he was arrested and sentenced to nine months for assault causing bodily injury.
In 2020, he was arrested in Harris County on a harassment charge. In September 2023, the Conroe Police Department arrested him and charged him with resisting arrest, search, or transportation. He pleaded guilty in court on December 19, 2023.
