Tragic Discovery: Missing 11-Year-Old Texas Girl Found Dead in River; Person of Interest Faces Capital Murder Charges
In a devastating turn of events, the body of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who had gone missing last week on her way to school, was discovered on Tuesday in a nearby river, as confirmed by the Polk County District Attorney in an afternoon press conference.
Don Steven McDougal, 42, identified as a person of interest in Audrii’s mysterious disappearance on February 15, lived in a trailer behind her father’s home in Livingston, a small town near Houston. Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton announced plans to charge McDougal with capital murder during the press conference.
The alarm was raised when school officials reported Cunningham missing after she failed to show up at school last Thursday, according to Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons. McDougal, who was supposed to take Cunningham to the bus stop that day, was the last person known to have seen her before she vanished.
McDougal’s extensive criminal history, spanning over two decades, includes convictions for offenses such as theft, driving while intoxicated, unauthorized use of a vehicle, drug possession, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and enticement of a child. His most recent conviction in 2020 for harassment resulted in a weeklong stay in the Harris County Jail.
Ted Booher, a victim of McDougal’s harassment in 2020, described him as a problematic employee with a volatile temper. Booher, who was unaware of Cunningham’s disappearance until recently, recalled the incident involving McDougal threatening him over a dispute about payment.
Another victim, Elic Bryan III, who worked with McDougal at an auto repair shop in Crosby, revealed an incident in 2010 where McDougal, in a drunken state, attempted to stab him with a knife. Bryan expressed regret for not taking more decisive action at the time.
Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons disclosed that Cunningham’s parents, who are estranged, were aware of McDougal’s criminal background but were unaware of any sexual offenses involving children. McDougal, not required to register as a sex offender, was arrested on an unrelated charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Friday and is currently held in the Polk County Jail on a $500,000 surety bond.