Body of missing girl, Audrii Cunningham, found in Texas river

By Jen Krausz on
 February 21, 2024

The body of Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old girl missing since Feb.15, was found near the Trinity River in Texas on Tuesday after days of searching.

Cunningham was seen around 7 a.m. on Feb. 15, but did not get on the school bus as planned that day.

A person of interest, her father's friend, Don Steven McDougal, was arrested on Friday for another crime and was charged with capital murder after her body was found.

McDougal has a long criminal history that includes an arrest in 2008 for enticing a minor.

There had been reports that McDougal dropped Cunningham off at the bus stop on other days and had allegedly promised to do so the day she went missing.

Audrii's mother, Cassie Matthews, told FOX 26 Houston that she believed McDougal would babysit the 11-year-old girl while he was staying at her father's home.