Authorities in Polk County, Texas, have located the body of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who went missing last week.
The police are preparing to file murder charges against 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal, a family friend and suspect in the case, already in custody on an unrelated assault charge.
Audrii vanished on February 15 after not boarding her school bus.
McDougal, known to sometimes assist with Audrii’s transportation to school, was identified as a person of interest.
He lived on Audrii’s family property near Lake Livingston.
The discovery of Audrii’s body occurred in the Trinity River, approximately 10 miles from her family home.
A backpack believed to be hers was found in the area on Friday. Audrii, last seen with a red Hello Kitty-style backpack, was supposed to catch a school bus but never made it to school on February 15.
Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton announced the imminent filing of a capital murder arrest warrant against McDougal.
McDougal had joined search efforts after Audrii’s disappearance, even being considered a witness after his vehicle was tied to the case.
Sheriff Byron Lyons revealed that witnesses reported McDougal’s active involvement in the community search.
McDougal, in custody since February 16 on an unrelated charge, pleaded no contest to enticing a child in a 2007 incident and served a two-year prison sentence.
The cause of Audrii’s death has not been disclosed, with her remains undergoing examination by the Harris County Medical Examiner.
Source-BBC
