The ‘person of interest’ in the case of missing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham in Texas has been revealed to be a swastika tattoo worn by an ex-convict whose previous crimes included child seduction.
Don Steven McDougal has not been charged in connection with Cunningham’s disappearance and is being held on a separate assault charge stemming from an August 2023 incident.
McDougal, 42, is a career criminal with a long record dating back to 2001. Cunningham’s mother, Cassie Matthews, said houston fox who believes McDougal and the father of her child live together.
In 2008, McDougal was convicted of two counts of child seduction and sentenced to two years in prison for each.
Cunningham disappeared early Thursday morning in Livingston, northeast of Houston, after his father, Joshua Cunningham, dropped him off at the bus stop.
McDougal photographed on his Facebook page shortly after being released from prison in 2020.
Audrii, 11, went missing early Thursday morning in Livingston, northeast of Houston, after being dropped off at the bus stop and has not been seen since.
‘There’s no feeling you feel, it’s a rollercoaster, you’re broken, you’re angry, you’re empty and right now I’m empty. “He has many opportunities ahead of him and deserves every right to take advantage of them,” said mother Cassie Matthews.
Cunningham’s father, Joshua, would allegedly leave his daughter in McDougal’s car while he was at work.
Matthews said McDougal would regularly be responsible for watching Cunningham while the girl’s father was at work. She added that she did not find out about this arrangement until after her daughter disappeared.
Social media photos show McDougal has a swastika tattooed on his upper left arm. In a January 2020 post, the person of interest said he had just gotten out of prison.
McDougal and Joshua Cunningham are friends on Facebook.
Police on Friday found a backpack believed to belong to Cunningham near the Lake Livingston Dam, as well as other unspecified items likely belonging to a young child.
Authorities have said they believe foul play is involved in the disappearance, and while they are hopeful she will be found alive, the area’s frigid overnight temperatures make that unlikely.
Authorities are also searching for a dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban believed to be connected to the disappearance. The car belongs to McDougal.
“He has many opportunities ahead of him and he deserves every right to take advantage of them,” his mother said. Khou in a heartbreaking interview.
“She should be home where we know she’s safe, warm, fed and she should be with her little brother.” “She should do what Audrii does: smile, laugh, make everyone else smile and laugh,” she added.
Police are now searching for McDougal’s dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban that may be linked to the young man’s disappearance, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
On Saturday afternoon, Texas Department of Safety officials revealed that they had found the girl’s backpack near a dam on Lake Livingston.
In several photos posted online, McDougal proudly shows off his swastika tattoo.
matthews said KPRC in a separate interview: ‘There’s no feeling you feel, it’s a rollercoaster, you’re broken, you’re angry, you’re empty and right now I’m empty.
‘He has many opportunities ahead of him and deserves every right to take advantage of them.
“We would like her to come home, it’s not like her to just run away or disappear, she has a lot of loving family, she has a lot of people who love her and adore her. We have no clues, so we cling to any thread, any sign, any anything in general.
“I’m not going to be the same unless my baby is returned to me and neither will her family, any of us, any of her friends, any of the people she’s been connected to in the community.”
A neighbor told Fox Houston that she saw McDougal at Cunningham’s father’s house. That woman, Denise Kolojaco, said she sees Cunningham walk to his school bus stop every day. The last time she saw her was on February 14.
“She was walking by, loving my dog, and I said happy Valentine’s Day,” Kolojack said. ‘We love you and want you to be home, Audrii. I’m sorry, girl.’
A prayer service for Cunningham was held Sunday night in Livingston.
‘Audrii was very loved and all that. Audrii was well cared for. She misses Audrii. We want her home,’ a family spokesperson told the crowd as he asked people not to spread rumors on social media.
Anyone with information on Audrii’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810.
Audrii, who is 4’1″, has blonde hair and blue eyes, was wearing a black hoodie with white lettering, black pants, black high-top sneakers and a bright red ‘Hello Kitty’ style backpack when last seen.