[ad_1]
The body of 11-year-old Audrey Cunningham, who had been missing for five days in a small Texas town, was found in a river Tuesday, and authorities announced they plan to charge a man in the case.
“I am heartbroken by this news,” Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons told reporters at a news conference announcing the tragic discovery, adding, “Everyone who knew, cared for, and loved Audrey. I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy and condolences.” We continue to process the evidence we have collected to ensure justice for Audrey. ”
He said the girl’s body was found in the Trinity River along Route 59. She had been missing since Thursday after missing her school bus in Livingston, a small town about 110 miles northeast of Houston.
Mr Lyons said the information gathered in the criminal investigation was “substantial”.
Here’s what we know about Audrey and the man police plan to charge in her death.
Man charged in connection with Audrey’s death
District Attorney Sherry Sitton said law enforcement is preparing an “appropriate arrest warrant” for Don Stephen McDougall, 42, who was supposed to drop off Audrey on the school bus the morning she disappeared. He said there is.
“At this time, we believe that an arrest warrant for capital murder in the death of Audrey Cunningham is appropriate,” Sitton said. “We understand that this is an extremely difficult time for Audrey’s family and for our community.”
USA TODAY was unable to find an attorney listed for McDougall, who was being held in the Polk County Jail on an unrelated felony charge of aggravated assault on Friday.
“We believe he was the last person to see her at that point,” Lyons previously said of McDougal.
McDougal had spoken with investigators, but law enforcement declined to say how McDougall was involved in finding Audrey’s body.
Who is Audrey Cunningham? How did the police find her?
Audrey Cunningham lived with her family in a lakeside community on the east shore of Lake Livingston.
Lyons said investigators were able to locate Audrey’s body using cell phone records, video and some information they received from McDougall.
Where is Livingston, Texas?
The town, which had a population of just over 5,600 at the last census, is located in Polk County, about 160 miles west of the Louisiana state line.
Livingston is located just over 75 miles south of Lufkin, Angelina County’s largest city.
This small town made national headlines last year when a heroic couple rescued a nine-month-old baby abandoned in a shed.
“Little dress, no diaper.”Texas ‘heroic’ couple rescues baby abandoned in cabin
When did Audrey Cunningham disappear?
Audrey was last seen at 7 a.m. on February 15, when she left her home to catch a school bus.
Her parents reported her missing Thursday afternoon when she didn’t get off the bus.
School officials told investigators that a bus did not pick her up and she did not report to campus.
Where did you find Audrey’s backpack?
Over the weekend, Texas Department of Safety officials found Audrey’s backpack and the agency announced they had identified a person of interest in her disappearance.
On Saturday, Polk County Sheriff’s Lt. Craig Cummings said authorities found Audrey’s Hello Kitty backpack near the dam on Lake Livingston, USA TODAY NETWORK’s Austin American-Statesman reported. He said he did.
Mr. Cummings identified the person of interest as McDougall.
Lyons said at a news conference Monday that McDougal lived in a mobile home on the family’s property and would sometimes walk the girl to the bus stop to take her to school if she missed the bus.
Investigators believe McDougall’s dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban was involved in the disappearance, according to the sheriff’s office.
Police were asking the public to help report any sightings of the vehicle on Thursday or Friday.
Missing Ohio boy found dead:Darnell Taylor found, adoptive mother charged with murder
Contributed by: Fernanda Figueroa and the Austin American Politician
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
[ad_2]
Source link
