Texas Girl, 11, Found Dead after Vanishing on Her Way to School – Cause of Death Finally Revealed

In a tragic development of a story that has caught the attention of many, the mystery surrounding the sudden death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham has finally been unraveled. Audrii, whose absence sent waves of concern across Livingston, Texas, was discovered lifeless in a river, five days after her disappearance.

After a thorough examination, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has confirmed that the cause of Audrii’s death was blunt head trauma. This revelation has brought a somber clarity to the circumstances leading to the young girl’s demise.

Her disappearance on February 15th, when she failed to arrive at school, sparked an exhaustive search, culminating in a discovery that has left a community in mourning. The unmasking of Audrii’s cause of death marks a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn widespread attention and sorrow.

As previously reported on February 22:

Additionally, Sheriff Bylon Lyons revealed that Don used to accompany the child to catch the school bus in the neighborhood. In the wake of Audrii’s disappearance, Don even assisted in the search for the little girl. He was seen knocking on neighborhood doors asking if anyone had seen her.

However, Lyons had a hunch that there was more than met the eye, judging by the lengths Don was going to find Audrii. Days after her disappearance, he reportedly claimed in several comments on social media, that he was not responsible for her going missing.

As previously reported on February 19:

The family of an 11-year-old girl, Audrii Cunningham, has been in distress since their little girl disappeared. She was last seen near her home in the early hours around the 100 block of Lakeside Drive in Polk County.

She was dropped off at the bus stop, but school officials informed the Sheriff’s Office that Audrii never boarded the bus and did not report to school. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and various law enforcement agencies have issued an urgent Amber Alert for the young Texas resident.

Audrii is described as a white female, with blonde hair and blue eyes, standing approximately 4 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 75 pounds. Her last known attire includes black pants, a black hoodie adorned with white marks, and black high-top tennis shoes. She was also carrying a distinctive bright red “Hello Kitty” backpack.

Unfortunately, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons, reported that Audrii was sadly found at the bottom of the Trinity River. “My heart aches with the news, and I express my deepest sympathies and condolences,” expressed the sheriff.

Sheriff Lyons issued a call to the public for any information regarding Audrii’s whereabouts. Her mother, Cassie Mathews, emphasized that the disappearance was very unlike Audrii, “We would like to have her come home, it’s not like her to just run off or disappear, she has a lot of loving families, she has so many people that love her and adore her.”

The emotional toll on the family was indescribable. Cassie candidly expressed the immense pain and uncertainty that has been eating her and her family up during the tough time. “This is the stuff you see on TV where you can only imagine what the families and the parents are going through,” lamented Cassie. She added, “Right now, I am empty.”

In a significant development, 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal of Livingston was identified as a person of interest in connection to Audrii’s disappearance. Don was recently arrested on unrelated charges. Investigators suspected he might be connected to a dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban potentially involved in the case. Additionally, a backpack that might have belonged to a child was found near Lake Livingston Dam.

The Polk County Crime Stoppers offered a $7,000 reward for information leading to the resolution of this case. The community and law enforcement urged anyone with information to come forward by contacting 936-327-STOP to help ensure that Audrii safely returned home and that her family received closure.

No matter how painful the wait for her little girl was, Cassie emphasized she wouldn’t be the same until she was reunited with Audrii. She still hoped to see her daughter fulfill the life she dreamed of. “She has so many opportunities ahead of her, and she deserves every right to be able to reach those opportunities,” she expressed.

An additional update on how the case would be processed was provided by Polk County District Attorney, Shelly Sitton. According to the evidence, an arrest warrant for Don will be processed, and it is believed that the appropriate charge will be under capital murder.

Reports state that Don was a friend of Audrii’s father who lived in a trailer behind their home. He reportedly admitted to being with Audrii at the time she disappeared but refused to tell the authorities what happened next.

The suspect would sometimes walk the child to the bus stop, but what was shocking was that Don joined the community in the search for Audrii. Some witnesses even recalled seeing him knocking on doors asking if they had seen the little girl.

Here is a story about a 16-year-old who went missing after leaving home barefoot and in her pajamas.