An 11-year-old girl named Audrii Cunningham has gone missing in Texas, leaving behind her red “Hello Kitty” backpack. The young girl vanished after leaving for school in the small town of Livingston, located about 70 miles northeast of Houston. Audrii never boarded the school bus, and a small backpack, likely belonging to a child, was discovered near the Lake Livingston Dam. Although a man arrested for an unrelated aggravated assault case is believed to be one of the persons of interest involved in Audrii’s disappearance, her whereabouts remain unknown.
Audrii was last seen around 7 a.m. on Thursday near her home on Lakeside Drive. Her home is close to Lake Livingston, a large reservoir that provides water for Houston and other East Texas cities. When Audrii failed to catch the school bus or report to school, her family reported her missing. A multi-agency search was initiated, involving the Texas Rangers, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Livingston Police Department, the Texas State Guard, and local fire departments.
On Friday, a small backpack that is believed to be Audrii’s was found near the Lake Livingston Dam. Authorities had previously mentioned that she was carrying a bright red “Hello Kitty” backpack. However, the investigation is still ongoing.
Investigators have identified a 42-year-old man as one of the persons of interest involved in Audrii’s disappearance. They suspect that his dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban may be connected to the case. The man was arrested on Friday for an unrelated charge of aggravated assault. While authorities have not released specific details about his connection to Audrii’s disappearance, they acknowledge that foul play may be a factor.
Audrii’s mother, Cassie Matthews, expressed her heartbreak over the situation and empathized with other parents of missing children whom she had heard about on the news. Now, she finds herself in the same position, describing the experience as a roller coaster of emotions. Audrii’s mother hopes for her safe return, emphasizing that her daughter has many opportunities ahead of her and deserves the chance to pursue them.
Audrii is described as a White girl with blond hair and blue eyes. She is approximately 4 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs around 75 pounds. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing black pants, a black hoodie with white lettering, and black high-top tennis shoes.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Audrii’s case to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810 or submit an anonymous tip online.
This report was contributed to by CNN’s Rosa Flores, Chris Boyette, and Joe Sutton.