In a joint effort to find 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who vanished last week triggering an AMBER Alert, Texas law enforcement and volunteers continued their search near the Trinity River off I-69, which was shut down on Monday to aid the operation. The girl was last seen on Thursday morning and did not board her school bus, her absence noted when she failed to return home that afternoon, as reported by KHOU.
A community shaken by her mysterious disappearance held a prayer vigil at the VFW Post in Polk County, where her uncle Chris Boothe pleaded with the public to refrain from speculation on social media stating, "I'm going to ask that if you don't know anything, don't say anything. All you're doing is hurting the family," KENS5 reported. Boothe highlighted the agony the family is enduring, reminding the online community that the missing child is deeply loved and cared for.
Amidst the search, investigators identified 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal as a person of interest, finding his dark blue Chevrolet Suburban which they believe may be connected to Audrii's disappearance, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. McDougal, not currently named as a suspect, was jailed on unrelated charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and the Polk County Sheriff's Office is offering a $7,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest, a substantial sum that signifies the urgency of locating the young girl.
Audrii's mother, Casey Matthews conveyed her daughter's character, describing her as smart, fun, and caring, and emphasized that Audrii's actions are completely out of character "She has so many opportunities ahead of her and deserves every right to reach those opportunities," Matthews said, voicing the aspirations and anxieties of a mother in torment, who just wants her daughter to return home to safety to be with her family, according to an interview with KHOU.
The search for Audrii has seen the combined efforts of multiple departments, including the Texas Rangers, San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office, and the FBI. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to reach out to the Polk County Sheriff's Office or use the iWatchTexas App, providing a crucial chance for the community to help bring a missing child back to her home where she belongs.
