The family of Audrii Cunningham, the 11-year-old Texas girl found murdered, has spoken out, declaring they feel the 'system failed us' after it emerged that the suspect's name failed to surface on a sex offender registration system. Don Steven McDougal, who was charged with Audrii's murder, was a family friend living on their property in a trailer.
McDougal was entrusted by Audrii's father to take her to a school bus stop on the morning of her disappearance. As reported by Hindustan Times, court documents reveal a grim scene Audrii Cunningham's body was discovered with a large rock tied around it. The suspect has since been ordered to be held without bond.
"Audrii's death occurred at the hands of a monster we thought was a friend," Audrii's grandfather, Captain Philip Munsch, said in a statement obtained by KHOU 11. The family's grief has been compounded by criticism on social media for their compassionate housing of McDougal, a formerly incarcerated individual. In their defense, they cite their faith and belief in second chances as motivation.
The Cunningham family was in the dark regarding McDougal's criminal history, which includes a 2007 conviction of enticing a child with intent. "Had we been aware of what we know now, this man would never have set foot on our property, much less been a part of our little girl's life," the family noted in their statement. According to them, the system's loophole meant McDougal did not appear on the sex offender registry they checked prior to allowing him to stay near their family. Now, the family's focus shifts to honoring Audrii's memory and advocating for changes in sex offender registry laws to prevent future such oversights.
