Capital Murder Charge Filed in Death of 11-Year-Old Audrii Cunningham
Tragedy struck the community of Livingston, Texas, when the body of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham was found in the Trinity River, five days after she went missing from her neighborhood. The heartbreaking news took an even darker turn as authorities announced that a suspect, Don Steven McDougal, had been charged with capital murder in connection with Audrii’s death.
The search for Audrii began when she failed to board the school bus on Thursday morning and did not show up at school. An Amber Alert was issued, and the community rallied together to find the young girl. McDougal, a friend of Audrii’s family who lived in a camper behind their house, quickly became a person of interest in the investigation.
Authorities revealed that McDougal had occasionally taken Audrii to the bus stop or even to school when she missed the bus. During a press conference, Sheriff Byron Lyons stated that McDougal admitted to leaving with Audrii on the morning she disappeared but refused to confirm if she ever made it to the bus stop. However, McDougal was believed to be the last person to have seen her alive.
A significant search effort was launched involving multiple local and state law enforcement agencies. They focused their efforts on areas near Lake Livingston and the Trinity River, hoping to piece together McDougal’s movements during the time of Audrii’s disappearance. The tragic end came when crews discovered Audrii’s lifeless body in the Trinity River along US-59 near Livingston.
The police credited cellphone analysis, collected videos, and McDougal’s own statements as key factors in locating Audrii’s body. Charging documents revealed that McDougal had lied about his whereabouts on February 15, and evidence found near the river matched items discovered in his car during a previous traffic stop. An autopsy will determine the cause of Audrii’s death, shedding light on the final moments of her young life.
Following the discovery of Audrii’s body, Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton announced that an arrest warrant was being prepared for McDougal, and he would be facing a capital murder charge. This charge makes him eligible for the death penalty. McDougal, with a criminal history dating back to 2001, has faced various charges, including theft and evading. Notably, he was convicted of two counts of enticement of a child in 2008, for which he served two years for each count.
The community of Livingston mourns the loss of a young girl whose life was cut tragically short. Audrii Cunningham’s death reminds us of the importance of vigilance in protecting our children and the need for justice to be served. As the legal process unfolds, the memories of Audrii will remain in the hearts of those who loved her, and her story will serve as a reminder to cherish and safeguard our children at all costs.
