On Tuesday, investigators confirmed the discovery of the body of an 11-year-old Texas girl who had gone missing last week after failing to catch her school bus.
Audrii Cunningham was last observed near her father’s residence in Livingston, Texas, around 7 a.m. on Feb. 15, according to authorities, as she did not board her school bus that morning.
Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons revealed that Audrii’s body was found near the Trinity River, expressing deep sorrow, stating, “My heart aches with this news.”
Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton disclosed that arrest warrants are being prepared for Don Steven McDougal, 42, and they anticipate pursuing a capital murder charge. Sitton stated, “Based on all of the evidence that law enforcement has collected, they are in the process of preparing the appropriate arrest warrants.” McDougal is currently in jail on an unrelated felony charge.
Asked about the details of Audrii’s death, Sitton responded, “I cannot speak to that.”
McDougal, a friend of Audrii’s father, had provided investigators with a list of places he had visited but did not disclose the location of her body, according to Sheriff Lyons. The authorities utilized cell phone data and video footage to assist in locating Audrii’s remains.
McDougal was previously in custody on unrelated aggravated assault charges, arrested Friday night, and had been identified as the primary person of interest in Audrii’s disappearance. Despite joining the search efforts for the missing girl, the sheriff noted that McDougal’s actions may suggest an attempt to appear innocent.
The sheriff revealed that McDougal resides in a trailer on the family’s property and occasionally accompanied Audrii to the bus stop.
