Update 2/20 4:00pm:
LIVINGSTON (AP) – Texas authorities say they found the body of an 11-year-old girl who had been missing since last week and will charge a man who lived on her family’s property with murder.
Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons made the announcement Tuesday afternoon at a news conference with other officials.
The family of Audrii Cunningham had reported the girl missing on Thursday after she failed to return after school to their home in Livingston, north of Houston. Investigators later discovered she’d never gotten on the bus for school that morning.
Authorities arrested a man Friday described a person of interest in the case on an unrelated assault charge.
Original Story:
LIVINGSTON (WBAP/KLIF News ) – There’s been an arrest in connection to a Southeast Texas Amber Alert as the search for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham intensifies.
Her family reported Audrii missing after she didn’t get off the bus at the end of the day last Thursday in Livingston, about 74 miles northeast of Houston.
Investigators learned Audrii never got on the school bus that morning and never attended classes.
Authorities found her backpack and announced they arrested 42-year- old Don Steven Mcdougal as a person of interest on an unrelated charge of aggravated assault.
During a news conference Saturday morning, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Craig Cummings said they’re focused on bringing Audrii home alive.
“That’s what we are absolutely working towards right now but based on the evidence that we’ve got…we understand that foul play is a factor as well,” he said.
Texas EquuSearch crews descended on Lake Livingston to search for Audrii around 6 a.m. Saturday after authorities paused search efforts Friday evening.
Texas DPS said the south end of the lake was a “location of interest.”
Cummings is asking for the public to be on the look out for a dark blue 2003 Chevrolet suburban, which belongs to McDougal and has been identified as a vehicle of interest, and call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810 with any information.
Tipsters are also to report any information to 911 or the iWatchTexas App.
Audrii is 4 feet 1 inches tall, 75 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a black hoodie with white lettering, a camo backpack, black pants and black high-top tennis shoes the last time she was seen.
Authorities are offering a $7,000 reward for information leading to the arrest for the person responsible for Audrii’s disappearance.
Texas DPS, Texas Rangers, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are working together to bring Audrii home safe.
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