Texas Girl, 11, Found Dead – Her Dad Finally Speaks Out after His Friend Was Charged with the Murder

Audrii Cunningham's father and grandmother have vocalized their grief concerning her death and have pointed out flaws in the legal system. Their emotional statement also illuminated a collective yearning to safeguard innocent lives in the future.

In a heart-wrenching update on the tragic story of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who was found dead in the Trinity River after a distressing six-day search, her grieving dad, Joshua Cunningham, and grandmother, Tabitha Munsch, have bravely addressed the public to express their devastation and feelings of betrayal by someone they once considered close.

"Tragically, Audrii's death occurred at the hands of a monster we thought was a friend, only 10 days after Audrii’s 11th birthday," they shared in a statement that highlighted the incomprehensible pain of losing a child under such heinous circumstances.

The family's message went on to magnify the flaws in a legal system meant to protect the vulnerable by shedding light on a "loophole" that exists in the sex offender registration system that allowed the accused, Don Steven McDougal, to mask his dangerous past.

Joshua and Tabitha also acknowledged that their faith-driven decision—led by a belief in redemption—to offer Don a second chance has been met with harsh criticism online.

"But our interactions with this person were a result of our faith, which teaches us to give our fellow man a second chance," read a part of their statement.

Tabitha and Joshua also extended their gratitude towards law enforcement, the community, and the media for their roles in the search for their deceased loved one. Additionally, their call to action seeks not only justice for Audrii Cunninghman but also calls for Washington and local Legislators and Law Enforcement to prioritize the protection of other children from violent predators and ensure no other family endures a similar heartbreak.

As previously reported on February 23:

In a tragic development of a story that has caught the attention of many, the mystery surrounding the sudden death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham has finally been unraveled. Audrii, whose absence sent waves of concern across Livingston, Texas, was discovered lifeless in a river, five days after her disappearance.

After a thorough examination, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has confirmed that the cause of Audrii's death was blunt head trauma. This revelation has brought a somber clarity to the circumstances leading to the young girl's demise.

The nature of Audrii's injuries led authorities to conclude that her death was a result of homicidal violence, officially classifying it as a homicide. As the investigation continues, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences remains tight-lipped about any additional injuries, underscoring the ongoing efforts to understand the full extent of the violence inflicted upon Audrii.

Her disappearance on February 15th, when she failed to arrive at school, sparked an exhaustive search, culminating in a discovery that has left a community in mourning. The unmasking of Audrii's cause of death marks a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn widespread attention and sorrow.

As previously reported on February 22:

According to the authorities, Don Steven McDougal, a person of interest in the case, and a friend of the missing girl's father, was dishonest about his whereabouts and what he was up to on the day Audrii Cunningham went missing.

Her body has since been found. Per court documents, there was a large rock that was tied around her remains. “The rope used was consistent with rope that was observed in Don’s vehicle on a traffic stop two days prior,” the complaint states. Following new developments in the case, Don has been charged with capital murder.

Additionally, Sheriff Bylon Lyons revealed that Don used to accompany the child to catch the school bus in the neighborhood. In the wake of Audrii's disappearance, Don even assisted in the search for the little girl. He was seen knocking on neighborhood doors asking if anyone had seen her.

However, Lyons had a hunch that there was more than met the eye, judging by the lengths Don was going to find Audrii. Days after her disappearance, he reportedly claimed in several comments on social media, that he was not responsible for her going missing.

Don claimed he had "done nothing wrong." "I'm not guilty," reads a comment from the account under a post on the Facebook page "True Crime Society," a day after Audrii was reported missing. “I was there and was questioned. I am not running or hiding,” Don wrote before commenting again and saying, “I have done everything I can to help find her. I have done nothing wrong."

As previously reported on February 19:

The family of an 11-year-old girl, Audrii Cunningham, has been in distress since their little girl disappeared. She was last seen near her home in the early hours around the 100 block of Lakeside Drive in Polk County.

She was dropped off at the bus stop, but school officials informed the Sheriff's Office that Audrii never boarded the bus and did not report to school. The Polk County Sheriff's Office and various law enforcement agencies have issued an urgent Amber Alert for the young Texas resident.

Audrii is described as a white female, with blonde hair and blue eyes, standing approximately 4 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 75 pounds. Her last known attire includes black pants, a black hoodie adorned with white marks, and black high-top tennis shoes. She was also carrying a distinctive bright red "Hello Kitty" backpack.

Unfortunately, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons, reported that Audrii was sadly found at the bottom of the Trinity River. "My heart aches with the news, and I express my deepest sympathies and condolences," expressed the sheriff.

The search operation involved the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Texas Ranger Division, Department of Public Safety, Livingston Police Department, Texas State Guard, and several local fire departments, who all worked together to locate Audrii.

Sheriff Lyons issued a call to the public for any information regarding Audrii's whereabouts. Her mother, Cassie Mathews, emphasized that the disappearance was very unlike Audrii, "We would like to have her come home, it's not like her to just run off or disappear, she has a lot of loving families, she has so many people that love her and adore her."

Audrii's loved ones said they searched behind her home where she lived with her father, but nothing was verified by the police. The search also extended to the state park, one of her favorite spots. Despite the exhaustive efforts, the search was temporarily halted on February 16, 2024, with plans to resume near Lake Livingston.

The emotional toll on the family was indescribable. Cassie candidly expressed the immense pain and uncertainty that has been eating her and her family up during the tough time. "This is the stuff you see on TV where you can only imagine what the families and the parents are going through," lamented Cassie. She added, "Right now, I am empty."

A special FBI team and a special Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team were appointed to the case, but many of the details remained unknown. But as the investigation continued, the distraught mother felt like every lead they had only led them to a dead end.

In a significant development, 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal of Livingston was identified as a person of interest in connection to Audrii's disappearance. Don was recently arrested on unrelated charges. Investigators suspected he might be connected to a dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban potentially involved in the case. Additionally, a backpack that might have belonged to a child was found near Lake Livingston Dam.

The police also revealed that Lake Livingston Dam was the location they were most focused on searching, but did not reveal the reasons why. After three days of the authorities actively searching for Audrii, there were no significant updates.

The Polk County Crime Stoppers offered a $7,000 reward for information leading to the resolution of this case. The community and law enforcement urged anyone with information to come forward by contacting 936-327-STOP to help ensure that Audrii safely returned home and that her family received closure.

No matter how painful the wait for her little girl was, Cassie emphasized she wouldn't be the same until she was reunited with Audrii. She still hoped to see her daughter fulfill the life she dreamed of. "She has so many opportunities ahead of her, and she deserves every right to be able to reach those opportunities," she expressed.

An additional update on how the case would be processed was provided by Polk County District Attorney, Shelly Sitton. According to the evidence, an arrest warrant for Don will be processed, and it is believed that the appropriate charge will be under capital murder.

Reports state that Don was a friend of Audrii's father who lived in a trailer behind their home. He reportedly admitted to being with Audrii at the time she disappeared but refused to tell the authorities what happened next.

The suspect would sometimes walk the child to the bus stop, but what was shocking was that Don joined the community in the search for Audrii. Some witnesses even recalled seeing him knocking on doors asking if they had seen the little girl.

Here is a story about a 16-year-old who went missing after leaving home barefoot and in her pajamas.