Girl, 11, found dead after vanishing six days ago - man faces murder charge
Audrii Cunningham disappeared near her home in Livingston, Texas, after leaving to catch the bus to school on Thursday.
Sky News, Wednesday 21 February 2024
The body of a missing 11-year-old has been found in a river in Texas after she vanished six days ago.
Audrii Cunningham was discovered in the Trinity River, authorities announced, after disappearing near her home in Livingston, about an hour north of Houston.
Don Steven McDougal, who is in custody on an unrelated matter, will be charged with capital murder in connection with her death, Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton said at a news conference.
She added that a case will be filed "based on all the evidence".
Sheriff Byron Lyons said information from the suspect, mobile phone data and social media pictures sent in by citizens led them to the body off Highway 59.
A local water authority lowered the level of the river to assist divers in their search, the sheriff said, adding that Audrii's body was now with a medical examiner, who would determine the cause and manner of death.
The girl had not been seen since she left her home on Thursday at about 7am to catch the bus to school.
However, she never got on that bus or made it to school that day, according to the Polk County Sheriff's department.
An Amber Alert - a notification sent to mobile phones telling people a child has gone missing - was issued for the child on the day she vanished.
It described her as 4ft 1in, with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing black trousers, a black hoodie with white lettering and black trainers
McDougal was described as "one of the persons of interest" involved in the case when he was arrested on Friday on suspicion of aggravated assault, in an unrelated incident, officials said.
The 42-year-old lives in a trailer behind Audrii's home and is considered a family friend who had occasionally taken her to the bus stop or to school.
A small children's backpack was found at the Lake Livingston Dam, not far from the Cunningham family home, authorities said.
The Trinity River feeds into that lake.
A $10,000 (£7,930) reward had been posted for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for Audrii's disappearance.
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