An Amber Alert has been issued in Texas for Audrii Cunningham (11). Audrii was last seen at around 7 a.m. on Thursday February 15, 2024 in the 100 block of Lakeside Drive in Livingston.
You can see the social media for Audrii’s parents here:
Cassie, Audrii’s mother – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072601184762
Joshua, Audrii’s father – https://www.facebook.com/joshua.cunningham.522
From what we can gather online, Cassie did not have custody of Audrii. Audrey lived at a home in Livingston with Joshua. I believe his mother live at the same property and a man named Don Steven McDougal (goes by Steven) also lived there. Some reports say he lived in a trailer at the property.
As some background into the area, Livingston has a population of around 6,000.
With a crime rate of 68 per one thousand residents, Livingston has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 15. 22% of homes in Livingston live in poverty.
According to Audrii’s mother Cassie, Steven messaged her, asking if she had seen Audrii. He said he had dropped her off earlier on the 15th and that she had never made the school bus.
Steven has a lot of Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/bigredmachine112
https://www.facebook.com/steven.mcdougal.927
https://www.facebook.com/steven.mcdougal.73744
Steven has a very long rapsheet, for unrelated charges. You can view it here.
Records show Steven has a lengthy criminal history that dates back to 2001 when he was charged with possession of marijuana out of Liberty County. The following year, he was hit with an assault of a public servant charge.
In 2003, he was charged with possession of a dangerous drug in Liberty County.
In 2005, he was arrested in Baytown for evading arrest or detention.
In 2006, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and theft by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
In 2007, he was convicted of enticing a minor with intent out of Brazoria County.
In 2009, he was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle in Baytown.
In 2010, he was charged by HCSO for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
In 2014, he was charged with theft and reckless driving by HCSO.
In 2019, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office charged him with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.
In 2020, HCSO charged him with harassment.
In 2023, Conroe police charged him with resisting arrest.
In terms of the 2007 charge, he was convicted of enticing a minor with intent out of Brazoria County.
As some info about this charge, a man told the deputy Steven “got in bed with his niece,” age 11 at the time, and “tried to remove her pants.”
The deputy wrote he later met with the girl’s mother who reported her daughter told her Steven attempted to remove her daughter’s pants after getting into bed with her and called the girl, “his ex-wife’s name.”
Stevenl was set to go to trial in June 2008 on the child indecency charge, but in September 2008, court records show, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charges.
He was sentenced to two years in prison for the crime, records show.
These are some screenshots that may be related to the case:
Steven has been commenting on social media since Audrii disappeared:
Cassie spoke to the media on Friday February 16.
“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 family, she has so many people that love her and adore her,” said Cassie.
“We have no leads so we are grasping at any string, any signs, anything in general,” Cassie said.
She also spoke about the search for Audrii. “Search began in the wood line behind her home because it leads to the state park, now she is known to like to explore the woods, she likes to look at the little animals.”
“Hard is an understatement, this is the stuff you see on TV and you can only imagine what the family and the parents are going through and there’s not words for it. There is not one feeling you feel, its a roller coaster, you are broken, you are mad, you are empty and right now I am empty,” Cassie said. “She has so many opportunities ahead of her, and she deserves every right to be able to reach those opportunities.”
“I am not going to be the same unless my baby is returned to me and neither is her family, any of us, any of her friends, any of the people that she has been connected to in the community,” Cassie said.
Neighbors told police they usually saw Audrii walking to the bus stop with a dog, but that they did not see her on the day she vanished. “She was allegedly dropped off at her bus stop, and later on, we come to learn that she never even made it on the bus,” Cassie said.
Early in the morning of February 17, Steven was taken into custody. He is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Steven’s SUV was also announced as a vehicle of interest in the case.
Police gave a press conference that day. “We are hopeful we can bring Audrii home alive and that’s what we are absolutely working for right now,” DPS Lt. Craig Cummings told reporters. “Everybody is committed. They realize Audrii was loved by so many folks and that is the driving force for us to get answers and bring her home.”
On Friday, Cassie told ABC13 Eyewitness News in Houston that investigators found a backpack near the Lake Livingston Dam, but there was no sign of Audrii.
The backpack was confirmed to belong to Audrii on Saturday February 18.
Police confirmed that there was information they are holding back to preserve the integrity of the case.
“There’s additional information out there. We’re just not releasing it. That’s what the investigators are using to follow up on,” Lt. Craig Cummings with the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
Texas Equusearch joined the search for Audrii on this day.
Police held another press conference on February 19. These are the main points from it – thanks to Stacey L for the info:
Looking for additional video on fm 3126 that shows the highway Thursday 2/15 between 630am-8am
Reward increases to $10,000
Asking public to stay away from scenic loop fm 3277 near tigerville park
Given Mcdougal opportunities to cooperate. Remain hopeful he will.
He was not required to register as a sex offender from enticement charge
Resided in camper behind Audrii’s home. Does have a relationship with the family.
Believe he was the last to see her.
Some occasions he did drop her at the bus stop or school.
He has NOT confessed.
Piecing together a timeline for the areas he was in and routes he took to search.
Feel strongly it was Audrii’s bag that was found..
Still a criminal investigation
Water area around her home has been searched
645am is when they feel she went missing
When asked if she was still alive, he hesitated and said they were hopeful she could be alive.
Cautious on info he Mcdougal provides
Mcdougal is still main person of interest.
Won’t share locations he has taken them to.
Mcdougal has not acknowledged if she made it to the bus stop or not.
Admits to leaving the home with Audrii the morning she went missing.
Made a statement to aggravated assault from August which allowed them to arrest him.
Home and RV has been searched.
Family is cooperating.
Mcdougal was a friend of Audrii’s father and was allowed to live on the property.
They are NOT ruling out other persons of interest as of yet.
According to FOX 26 sources, missing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham was found dead Tuesday afternoon.
Search crews located her body in the Trinity River near Livingston, Texas.
Police held a press conference on this day and the following notes are courtesy of Stacey L:
River water levels lowered to help divers locate areas of interest.
Audrii’s body was located in the trinity river under US Hwy 59. Amber alert will be cancelled
Thanking all offices and agencies involved
Expressing sympathies to her loved ones.
Evidence will continue to be collected and processed to get her justice.
Based on evidence, arrest warrant being prepared for capital murder for Stephen Mcdougal in the death of Audrii Cunningham.
Mcdougal is still in jail for the unrelated assault charge.
DA is dedicated to getting her justice
Her remains have been transported for autopsy to determine cause of death.
Found her via cell phone and video evidence and information from Mcdougal.
Substantial evidence to link Mcdougal to the locations and her body.
Won’t release information on the condition of her body when asked if she was dressed.
He stated that was a location Mcdougal was the day she disappeared. Not that he said he left her body there.
Was not visible to the naked eye.
Won’t say what agency discovered her body.
Reporter shouting that Mcdougal told them to lower the river…..won’t release if that’s true or not.
No evidence to show she was held anywhere else at this time.
Asked if she was weighted down, won’t confirm or deny.
SOURCE LIST
CLIPS USED IN THE PODCAST
