Authorities reported that they found the body of Audrii Cunningham, the 11-year-old girl who has been missing in Texas since last Thursday. Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons announced that the minor's body was found in the Trinity River.
Audrii Cunningham did not get off the school bus on February 15, and police discovered that she never made it onto the school bus that morning when she left her home. "Audrii’s body was located at the Trinity River under US Highway 59," Lyons explained in a statement reported by CNN.
The girl's body was taken to the medical examiner's office in Harris County and police are awaiting information on the cause of her death.
"In the process of preparing the appropriate arrest warrants"
Meanwhile, District Attorney Shelly Sitton explained that they are working on getting arrest warrants for the suspects involved in the minor's death. She stressed that it is likely that her office will request the death penalty for those responsible for Cunningham's death.
"Based on all of the evidence that law enforcement has collected, they are in the process of preparing the appropriate arrest warrants," Sitton said.
A 42-year-old man identified as Don Steven McDougal was arrested on an unrelated assault charge and remains in police custody. McDougal was the last person seen with her and gave information to authorities about Cunningham's disappearance.
"Around 7 a.m. Thursday, McDougal and Audrii left the house for the bus stop, authorities said. That was the last time Audrii’s family saw her. She never made it onto the school bus or to school that day," CNN reported.
McDougal has a lengthy criminal past with convictions for violent crimes and another for enticing a child, according to court records in several Texas counties.
