The tragic case of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who went missing on her way to school on February 15 in Livingston, Texas, has culminated in a capital murder charge against Don Steven McDougal, a 42-year-old family friend. After a six-day search, divers found Audrii's body in the Trinity River, with initial evidence suggesting she was murdered. McDougal, who had been living in a trailer behind the Cunningham family's home and was a friend of Audrii's father, quickly became the primary person of interest. Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton announced that McDougal will be charged with capital murder. The investigation revealed disturbing details, including that Audrii's body was found tied to a rock in the river. The medical examiner determined that Audrii died from homicidal violence, specifically blunt head trauma. The community has been shaken by the loss, with memorials and vigils planned to remember Audrii. Livingston ISD, where Audrii was a fifth-grade student, is offering counseling resources to those affected.
Audrii Cunningham’s Cause of Death Revealed After 11-Year-Old’s Body Was Found in River https://t.co/NttLUohgaP via @people
Autopsy reveals cause of death for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham:. https://t.co/S7kQDV2b3T Click the image to read more:
Texas girl Audrii Cunningham, 11, died from blunt force trauma https://t.co/JS8TsY4Iyw
The 11-year-old girl from Livingston died last week and her body was found in the Trinity River after an exhaustive six-day search. https://t.co/ogJ8oMwBE8
Audrii Cunningham died of 'homicidal violence,' blunt head trauma, medical examiner rules https://t.co/dGS8q41sBg
Audrii Cunningham, the 11-year-old girl whose body was found in the Trinity River on Tuesday, died of homicidal violence, according to medical examiner records. https://t.co/JwmHCD9sio
We now know what caused 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham’s death after her body was recovered from a Southeast Texas river https://t.co/HRXAniZeCk
The 11-year-old girl from Livingston died last week and her body was found in the Trinity River after an exhaustive six-day search. 💔🙏 https://t.co/yAb6s1NGKX
BREAKING: 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham reportedly died from blunt force trauma https://t.co/UDIJ7moRLG
Texas girl Audrii Cunningham, 11, died from blunt force trauma: report https://t.co/ARsqBDZAij
Nearly two days after Audrii Cunningham's body was found in a river in Texas, the medical examiner's office confirmed that she died from blunt head trauma. https://t.co/eQ2Y4sKFw3
Autopsy reveals cause of death for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham: https://t.co/FdruHeGlbJ
Murdered Girl‘s Pants Found near Location of Body Recovery in East Texas River, Says Searcher https://t.co/emjnBDJkc6
An autopsy shows 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham died from homicidal violence. https://t.co/GJd0UX2h0Q
Photos from the Livingston vigil where community members honored 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham. https://t.co/8UGqaUbzIT
Funeral services for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham of Livingston announced following vigil https://t.co/OEK9a5fuEm
"She was perfection." That's how Cassie Matthews, the mother of Audrii Cunningham, described her daughter at a vigil held Wednesday in Polk County, Texas. https://t.co/Wrag46XcrP https://t.co/4J4MJNQ3ky
WATCH: A vigil was held for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham whose body was found tied to rock in the Trinity River. Family friend, Don Steven McDougal, has been charged with her murder.https://t.co/zhUAEld2Lx
System failed Audrii Cunningham, woman at center of 2007 McDougal charges says https://t.co/HJ7P5WiKZw
1st child victim of man charged with Audrii Cunningham's murder says system failed her and Audrii https://t.co/pwytemsCOq https://t.co/00UkDnpLFw
Court records obtained by KHOU 11 News reveal new details in the death of Audrii Cunningham whose body was recovered from the Trinity River Tuesday. https://t.co/UtgoaVdZQh
Family friend charged with capital murder in death of missing Livingston girl Audrii Cunningham https://t.co/N2leE2Mkla
Why Audrii Cunningham case may be hard to crack https://t.co/cQd8peOW7p https://t.co/BdAK9ehR0Z
What we know about Audrii Cunningham, the Texas 11-year-old who vanished on her way to school | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/aihYju6juK
Upon recovering the body of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham from the river, law enforcement found a large rock tied to her. https://t.co/nclzhQEV0P
Just a day after news of Audrii Cunningham's death made national headlines, her friends and family gathered in Livingston for a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to the slain 11-year-old. It was a sea of purple, Audrii's favorite color. https://t.co/ncomVgTjur
Don Steven McDougal, 42, has been charged with capital murder after authorities found Audrii's body in Texas' Trinity River on Tuesday. https://t.co/uxxu9kkRwK
Funeral services have been announced for Audrii Cunningham https://t.co/KEGYZEPxMq
Friends, family celebrate life of Audrii Cunningham at Livingston vigil https://t.co/HFisM2hr8i
A family friend accused of killing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham was supposed to take the Texas girl to her school bus stop when they left her home in his vehicle nearly a week before authorities found her body in a river, according to court documents... https://t.co/sHTi99d0WW
'Had a lot of life left in her' | Audrii Cunningham remembered at memorial in Livingston https://t.co/ubmZKg0uUU
Friends and community members are planning a candlelight memorial Wednesday to celebrate the life of Audrii Cunningham, the girl whose body was found in the Trinity River. https://t.co/ILWHeCTUKM
On Wednesday, family friend Don Steven McDougal, 42, was charged with capital murder and denied bond in connection with the death of 11-year-old Livingston, Texas, girl Audrii Cunningham. https://t.co/MT8aWsPVrE
JUST IN: Audrii Cunningham will be laid to rest in March, according to the Pace Funeral Home. Her services will be open to the public. https://t.co/SJpQxBH7Ee
Court documents reveal disturbing new evidence in death of Audrii Cunningham https://t.co/Pk4G8r3S6q
Audrii Cunningham's body was found after a five-day search. The suspect of her death, a family friend, has been charged. READ MORE: https://t.co/KnArEhoVXx
Don Steven McDougal has been charged with capital murder in connection with Audrii Cunningham's death. McDougal was reportedly a family friend living nearby. https://t.co/WdnvLDQbE7
The man facing a capital murder charge in the case of a missing 11-year-old girl found dead in Texas has a violent criminal history and previously served prison time on charges of enticing a child, court records obtained by USA TODAY Wednesday show. https://t.co/otUhD1zBtT
A 19-year-old was arrested Tuesday on a capital murder complaint in connection with the shooting death of an 18 year old in southern Dallas, police say. https://t.co/dMNQegJY9s
Court document: McDougal used rope to tie rock to Audrii's body found in Trinity River https://t.co/GJd0UX2h0Q
Texas authorities said they found the body of Audrii Cunningham, who went missing after she did not show up at her bus pick up last week. https://t.co/eTXkZcRCR2
Court documents obtained by KHOU 11 News reveal new evidence in the death of Audrii Cunningham. (WARNING: Contains details some may find disturbing) @MarcelinoKHOU @maria_aguilera https://t.co/UtgoaVdZQh
Man Accused of Murdering Audrii Cunningham Was Family Friend Who Participated in Search for Her: Sheriff https://t.co/qAmbfdjlLa via @people
Body of missing 11-year-old Texas girl found: Police https://t.co/Eff2OdLYc3 https://t.co/6ov5NEqiWf
Texas police have charged 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal with the murder of Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old girl who went missing in Texas last week. | By Ariel Harmer https://t.co/yIRAk1OHNU
Man charged with capital murder after death of missing Audrii Cunningham https://t.co/H1glufm7S3 https://t.co/H1glufm7S3
Don Steven McDougal charged with capital murder in connection to Audrii Cunningham's death https://t.co/DcIirlOUgG
NEW DEVELOPMENT: Suspect charged in connection to 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham's death. https://t.co/HOSp1v7t9F
Livingston community 'shaken,' honoring Audrii Cunningham with candlelight vigil Thursday https://t.co/R0YPLrITUJ
Audrii Cunningham's mysterious disappearance and the extensive search for her made national headlines. Here's a timeline of the investigation https://t.co/LHbLrUP5Ha
Don Steven McDougal had been on law enforcement's radar since they started searching for the 11-year-old girl last week. https://t.co/Ca7SlM3Fxl
Family friend charged with capital murder in death of Livingston girl Audrii Cunningham https://t.co/opnAbuKamX
The mom of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham shared a heart-wrenching post ahead of charges being filed against the suspect in the murder: "I failed my daughter by being bullied into submission by her father’s family." https://t.co/TZy0EUPanz
Don Steven McDougal was said to be a friend of Audrii's father, allowed to live in a trailer behind their Livingston house. Now days after her disappearance, he's been charged in her death. https://t.co/snrDE3UClA
Livingston ISD revealed that Audrii Cunningham was a fifth-grade student in the school district. The school district is offering counseling resources. https://t.co/usLHLKVEYC
Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said the 11-year-old’s body was found in the Trinity River under US Highway 59. https://t.co/pyQD5GXuTt
Family, friends, and members of the community will gather to remember 11-year-old #AudriiCunningham at a memorial this evening. #Texas #AMBERAlert https://t.co/A9ZVMIW2Ug https://t.co/AtlykcVZtx
Audrii's body was found Tuesday in the Trinity River near US-59, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons announced. https://t.co/bUpE3V6TIY
Don Steven McDougal, arrested on unrelated aggravated assault charges, now faces capital murder charges in Audrii's death. https://t.co/udeurLwUbT
Jail records in Polk County indicate Don Steven McDougal, 42, is now charged with capital murder in the death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham. https://t.co/GJd0UX2h0Q
Don Steven McDougal had been on law enforcement's radar since they started searching for Audrii Cunningham last week. https://t.co/sjNOJrKZcW
Divers found Audrii's body in the Trinity River under US 59 six days after she vanished. Don Steven McDougal will be charged with capital murder, the DA said. https://t.co/ieQPYRqKYu
Texas suspect in Audrii Cunningham disappearance charged with capital murder https://t.co/xtcJHh69OF
Breaking Update | Don McDougal has been the primary person of interest since Audrii Cunningham disappeared last week. Now, he’s charged with capital murder. Here's what we know now. https://t.co/WCN5o3NM8j
Livingston ISD calls Audrii Cunningham's death a 'tragedy' after body found in the Trinity River https://t.co/pLRXWe0aOM
Man charged with capital murder in death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham. https://t.co/fkmQtaXc8Z Click the image to read more:
Don Steven McDougal was a friend of Audrii's father. He is charged with capital murder in connection to her disappearance and death. https://t.co/Ca7SlM3Fxl
Audrii Cunningham timeline: Desperate search for missing 11-year-old comes to heartbreaking end https://t.co/US3m8XJ443
Breaking Update | Don McDougal has been the primary person of interest since Auddrii Cunningham disappeared last week. Now, he’s charged with capital murder. Here's what we know now. https://t.co/WCN5o3NM8j
Family, friends, and members of the community will gather to remember 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham at a memorial this evening. https://t.co/lq5esDdmkO
Divers found Audrii's body in the Trinity River under US 59 six days after she vanished. 💔🙏 Don Steven McDougal will be charged with capital murder, the DA said. https://t.co/RGmawtBGdE
Who is Don Steven McDougal? Suspect in Audrii Cunningham death https://t.co/geXNlvRtXh https://t.co/9AvMZQ5XI3
Body of missing Texas girl, 11, found as authorities prepare to charge family friend https://t.co/ggFhBiAAro
Audrii Cunningham was last seen on the morning of Feb. 15. https://t.co/MI42stOKZs
15-year-old girl who went missing out of Galveston found safe in San Angelo, Texas, authorities say https://t.co/kaRXevBYRm
The body of a missing 11-year-old girl from Texas, Audrii Cunningham, was found in the Trinity River, officials said Tuesday, adding that the cause of her death is being determined by a medical examiner. https://t.co/z1AbAUwGTc
Divers find body in Texas river of Audrii Cunningham, 11, who had been missing since last week | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/G8Ukxfs9Nz
The body of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham has been found, officials said Tuesday. https://t.co/7ZVe16bXgE
Divers have recovered the body of an 11-year-old girl from a Texas river days after she went missing last week and authorities are preparing to charge a man who lived on her family's property with murder, a sheriff announced Tuesday afternoon. https://t.co/Qt9oMa6Sxu
The body of a missing 11-year-old girl has been discovered in a river, with police now preparing arrest warrants for a suspect who lived next to the child's family home. https://t.co/FtxMjiUPnv
Texas authorities said Tuesday they were planning to give the public "significant" updates in the search for an 11-year-old girl who has been missing since she failed to get on a bus for school last week. https://t.co/zPlnqEh9W0
The body of missing 11-year-old Texas girl was found in a river. Authorities plan to file charges against a man in the case. https://t.co/upJloByk4j
The search for a missing 11-year-old Texas girl is over and is transitioning to a capital murder investigation after her body was recovered from the Trinity River. https://t.co/2AD8eF332E
The search for a missing 11-year-old Texas girl is over and is now transitioning to a capital murder investigation after her body was recovered. https://t.co/PdItwuEy3b
Divers find body of missing Texas girl Audrii Cunningham https://t.co/ayaboSHIoO
Timeline of Audrii Cunningham's disappearance from her Texas home https://t.co/Y0bdDdz5Qw
Audrii Cunningham went missing in February from her home in Livingston, Texas and later was found dead. Here's a timeline of her disappearance: https://t.co/kgoMqRnbXc
Law enforcement officials said Tuesday that they hope to bring capital murder charges against Don Steven McDougal in connection with the death of Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old girl who had been missing since Thursday. https://t.co/rVfnYJVvxg
13-year-old North Texas girl in ‘high-risk runaway’ case found safe, Everman police say https://t.co/LoOIW4XG6m
Divers have recovered the body of an 11-year-old girl from a Texas river days after she went missing, and authorities say they are preparing to file a murder charge against a friend of the girl's father. https://t.co/wOzsgc2adf
Don Steven McDougal, 42, of Livingston, will be charged with capital murder, according to Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton. https://t.co/ieQPYRqKYu
Missing 11-year-old’s body found in Texas river: Police https://t.co/SIdzrAbiKE https://t.co/sBpMHgHM4x
11-year-old who went missing from southeast Texas found dead in river, arrest made https://t.co/8DAsce1s9d
The Texas 11-year-old vanished on her way to school Feb. 15, initial evidence suggests she was murdered and there is a person of interest in the case. https://t.co/s3p4qgId6q
It was the news that no one wanted to hear. Six days after 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham vanished in Polk County, divers found her body in the Trinity River. Here's what we know about the case. @JMilesKHOU @maria_aguilera @MarcelinoKHOU https://t.co/YsZ8gLELUU
Audrii Cunningham's death: What to know about Don Steven McDougal, a person of interest in the case https://t.co/0VVUf8McTo
At a press conference, Polk County DA Shelly Sitton said his office plans to charge 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal with capital murder. https://t.co/Ia6Vd45eWt
Audrii Cunningham has been missing since Thursday morning. https://t.co/gqlVMe7sMX
Girl's body found 6 days after 11-year-old went missing in Texas https://t.co/gMolD9UrG7
I know the community’s heart is broken to learn of the news that Audrii Cunningham was found dead. What an evil person that could murder an innocent 11 year old. I hope all resources will be used to ensure that Audrii Cunningham and her family have justice.