Police in Texas are pleading for information on the whereabouts of an 11-year-old girl who vanished four days ago, as authorities said an SUV belonging to a man arrested on Friday may have been involved in the disappearance.
Audrii Cunningham was last seen near her home in Polk County, Texas, at 7 a.m. local time Thursday. She was due to catch a bus, but school officials reported that she did not board it or show up at school that day, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
An Amber Alert has been issued for Audrii, who is described as white and about 4 feet, 1 inch tall. She has blonde hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing black pants, a black hoodie with white lettering and black tennis shoes.
Don Steven McDougal, 42, was arrested Friday on suspicion of aggravated assault, in what authorities said was an unrelated incident. The state Department of Public Safety for the Southeast Texas region said he was "one of the persons of interest" involved in the case.
McDougal lives in a trailer behind the home that Audrii shares with her family, authorities said at a news conference Monday afternoon. McDougal was a family friend who occasionally took Audrii to the bus stop or to school, officials said.
He has not confessed in Audrii’s case and has not been greatly cooperative, according to law enforcement officials, who said he may have been the last person with Audrii.
Detectives believe his dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban was involved in Audrii's disappearance and are appealing for anyone who saw it on Thursday or Friday to report it, the Department of Public Safety said in a statement.
A small backpack thought to belong to a child was found at the Lake Livingston Dam, not far from the Cunningham family home, according to the statement.
Law enforcement officials said there is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for Audrii’s disappearance.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810. Tips can be submitted anonymously via the Polk County Crime Stoppers line at 936-327-7867 or online at p3tips.com or iwatchtx.org.
