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

LIVINGSTON, Texas (TCD) -- Officials have located and recovered the body of an 11-year-old girl who was reported missing last week after she failed to get on her school bus.

Audrii Cunningham was last seen Feb. 15 at approximately 7 a.m. near her home on the 100 block of Lakeside Drive. She was supposed to catch the school bus at her local stop, but she never boarded it. School officials became concerned because Cunningham did not show up to school, so she was reported missing to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. She was last seen wearing black pants, a black sweatshirt with white writing, black high-top sneakers, and a "Hello Kitty" backpack.

An Amber Alert went out the same day.

On Friday, Feb. 16, Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal on an unrelated charge of aggravated assault, but said he was a person of interest in the case because they believe his car was connected to her disappearance. Officials reportedly discovered Cunningham’s backpack near the Lake Livingston Dam.

In a Monday, Feb. 19, press conference, Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Craig Cummings shared additional details about McDougal, including that he lives in a camper behind Cunningham’s home. In 2008, McDougal pleaded guilty in Brazoria County to enticing a child, and he was sentenced to two years in prison with 527 days of time served. Cummings said McDougal was not required to register as a sex offender.

Then, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, investigators discovered Cunningham’s body in the Trinity River, which had its water levels lowered so divers could "reach areas of interest." Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton said investigators are in the process of drafting an arrest warrant for McDougal on a count of capital murder.

Sheriff Byron Lyons said McDougal provided some information that helped "pinpoint and set several points of interest," which led to investigators finding Cunningham’s body.

MORE:

• Press Release - Polk County Sheriff's Office
• The Texas Department of Public Safety and Polk County Sheriff’s Office are providing a briefing regarding the disappearance of Audrii Cunningham - Texas Department of Public Safety — Southeast Texas Region 
• Polk Co. Sheriff Byron Lyons and District Attorney Shelly Sitton are providing significant updates regarding the search for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham - Texas Department of Public Safety — Southeast Texas Region
• Investigators continue to actively follow leads - Texas Department of Public Safety — Southeast Texas Region
• The State of Texas vs Don Steven Mcdougal