The tragic death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham found in the Trinity River has left a community in mourning. The young girl's life was cut short, her potential unfulfilled, and her family left devastated by this senseless loss. Audrii's disappearance sparked a frantic search effort, with volunteers and law enforcement officers combing the area for any sign of her whereabouts. The discovery of her body in the river brought an abrupt end to the hope that she would be found alive.
As news of Audrii's death spread, an outpouring of grief and support flooded social media platforms and local news outlets. People expressed their shock and sadness at such a tragedy befalling someone so young. Questions linger about how this could have happened and what could have been done to prevent it.
Don Steven McDougal, 42, in custody on an unrelated manner, will be charged with capital murder in connection with her death, Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton said at a news conference.
A case will be filed "based on all the evidence," she said.
Sheriff Byron Lyons said information from the suspect, cellphone data and social media imagery sent in by citizens led them to the body off Highway 59 in the county.
A local water authority lowered the water level of the river to assist divers in their search, the sheriff said. Her body was with a medical examiner, who would determine an exact cause and manner of death, he said.
“Based on all of the evidence that law enforcement has collected, they are in the process of preparing the appropriate arrest warrants,” Sitton said. “At this time, we believe the appropriate arrest warrant is going to be for capital murder in the death of Audrii Cunningham. He is still in jail under an unrelated felony charge.”
When asked by reporters how Audrii was killed, Sitton said, “I cannot speak to that.”
McDougal, a friend of Audrii’s father, gave investigators a list of places he had been to, but didn’t divulge where her body was, according to the sheriff. Lyons added authorities also used cell phone data and video to help find her remains.
A cause of death was not released, but authorities said they had enough evidence to bring a murder charge and are preparing to file a warrant. The Harris County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy.
On Monday, the Polk County Sheriff told reporters McDougal was the last person to see Audrii alive. Authorities also revealed that, while being generally uncooperative with detectives, McDougal had led them to several sites around the lake. Shortly after Audrii's disappearance, a backpack later confirmed to be hers was found near the lake.
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