Texas girl Audrii Cunningham found dead in river after missing school bus had rock tied to body: docs
Charging documents say the rope tied to Audrii's body was consistent with rope observed in suspect Don McDougal's vehicle days prior
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Audrii Cunningham, the 11-year-old Texas girl who missed her school bus on Feb. 15 and was found dead in a river on Tuesday, had a "large rock" tied to her body when she was located, police said.
"The rope used was consistent with rope that was observed in [suspect Don] McDougal’s vehicle on a traffic stop two days prior," charging documents state.
Officials on Tuesday charged McDougal, 42, with capital murder of a person between the ages of 10 and 15, nearly a week after Audrii missed her school bus.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cellphone data tied McDougal to three "locations of interest" and Audrii to two of those locations, including the Trinity River near the US Highway 59 bridge in Livingston, where she was found deceased.
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Texas authorities named Don Steven McDougal as a person of interest in connection with the Feb. 15 disappearance of Audrii Cunningham. (Polk County Sheriff/ Facebook)
Other evidence obtained by authorities shows "McDougal lied about his whereabouts and activities on the day" Audrii went missing.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}McDougal, a family friend who lived in a trailer behind Audrii's residence in Livingston, was initially apprehended on Feb. 16 on an unrelated charge of aggravated assault.
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Don Steven McDougal has a lengthy criminal record dating back to the early 2000s. (Liberty County)
He has been accused of dozens of crimes dating back to the early 2000s and was convicted on two child enticement charges in 2008.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}LAW ENFORCEMENT SEARCHING FOR MEN WHO WENT MISSING OFF GULF OF MEXICO
Don Steven McDougal was convicted of enticement of a child in 2008. (Facebook)
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"He was probably taking her to…the bus stop, and we do feel that he was the last person to see Audrii," Lyons said of McDougal during a Monday press conference, adding that there were "some occasions" when McDougal would take Audrii to the bus stop or even to school if she missed the bus.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Audrii's mother, Cassie Matthews, told FOX 26 Houston that she believed McDougal would babysit the 11-year-old girl while he was staying at her father's home.