11-year-old girl who never got on her school bus is found dead in river days after going missing

LIVINGSTON, Texas (TCD) — Officers have situated and recovered the physique of an 11-year-old woman who was reported lacking final week after she didn’t get on her college bus.

Audrii Cunningham was final seen Feb. 15 at roughly 7 a.m. close to her dwelling on the 100 block of Lakeside Drive. She was presupposed to catch the varsity bus at her native cease, however she by no means boarded it. College officers turned involved as a result of Cunningham didn’t present as much as college, so she was reported lacking to the Polk County Sheriff’s Workplace. She was final seen sporting black pants, a black sweatshirt with white writing, black high-top sneakers, and a “Hey Kitty” backpack.

An Amber Alert went out the identical day.

On Friday, Feb. 16, Polk County Sheriff’s Workplace investigators arrested 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal on an unrelated cost of aggravated assault, however stated he was an individual of curiosity within the case as a result of they imagine his automotive was linked to her disappearance. Officers reportedly found Cunningham’s backpack close to the Lake Livingston Dam.

In a Monday, Feb. 19, press convention, Texas Division of Public Security Lt. Craig Cummings shared extra particulars about McDougal, together with that he lives in a camper behind Cunningham’s dwelling. In 2008, McDougal pleaded responsible in Brazoria County to attractive a toddler, and he was sentenced to 2 years in jail with 527 days of time served. Cummings stated McDougal was not required to register as a intercourse offender.

Then, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, investigators found Cunningham’s physique within the Trinity River, which had its water ranges lowered so divers may “attain areas of curiosity.” Polk County District Lawyer Shelly Sitton stated investigators are within the means of drafting an arrest warrant for McDougal on a depend of capital homicide.

Sheriff Byron Lyons stated McDougal offered some data that helped “pinpoint and set a number of factors of curiosity,” which led to investigators discovering Cunningham’s physique.

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