Don Steven McDougal, charged with the capital murder of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a life sentence. Cunningham's body was found in the Trinity River after she went missing from her Livingston-area neighborhood. McDougal, a family friend, was considered a person of interest and ultimately confessed to leaving with Cunningham the morning she disappeared.
Don Steven McDougal, the man accused of capital murder in the death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, entered a guilty plea on Friday in exchange for a life sentence without the possibility of parole. McDougal was charged in February after Cunningham's body was discovered in the Trinity River five days after her disappearance from her Livingston-area neighborhood.
An Amber Alert was issued for Cunningham on February 15th when she failed to board her school bus that morning and didn't arrive at school. A large-scale search effort was initiated, involving numerous local and state law enforcement agencies. Crews concentrated their efforts on areas surrounding Lake Livingston and the Trinity River for several days.Tragically, on the Tuesday of the following week, authorities made a heartbreaking discovery. The sheriff's office announced that crews had located Cunningham's body in the Trinity River along US-59 near Livingston. The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office subsequently determined that she died from blunt head trauma inflicted as a result of homicidal violence. Following her disappearance on Saturday, authorities announced that McDougal was being considered a person of interest in the case and had been taken into custody on Friday for an unrelated charge. McDougal was described as a family friend who resided in a camper behind the house where Cunningham lived with her father, grandparents, and other relatives. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, McDougal occasionally provided transportation for Cunningham, dropping her off at the bus stop or taking her to school if she missed the bus.During a press conference held on Monday, February 19th, the sheriff stated that McDougal admitted to leaving with Cunningham on Thursday morning but refused to confirm whether she had ever reached the bus stop. However, the sheriff indicated that McDougal was believed to be the last individual to have seen her. Law enforcement officials asserted that cell phone analysis, videos obtained during the investigation, and information provided by McDougal himself ultimately led to the discovery of Cunningham's body. Police maintained that they would have located her body regardless of the information provided by McDougal. Charging documents revealed that authorities were able to establish McDougal's lies about his whereabouts on February 15th through evidence, which placed him at three locations of interest. Two days prior to Cunningham's disappearance, McDougal was pulled over, and evidence discovered near the river was consistent with items found inside his vehicle, according to authorities
Capital Murder Guilty Plea Life Sentence Missing Child Amber Alert Homicide Investigation
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Audrii Cunningham's killer takes plea deal putting him in prison for lifeIn February 2024, 11-year-old Audrii was found dead in the Trinity River after a dayslong search. Her killer was a friend of her father and had been allowed to live on their property.
Read more »
‘Rot in hell:’ Audrii Cunningham’s family shares incendiary words to killer before accepting plea dealDon Steven McDougal, charged with the capital murder of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, has accepted a plea deal resulting in a life sentence without parole.
Read more »
Special hearing to be held Friday for accused killer of Polk County 11-year-old Audrii CunninghamA special hearing is scheduled to be held on Friday for the accused killer of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham.
Read more »
Cade Cunningham’s Honest Reaction to Detroit Pistons Rookie’s EjectionWhat does Cade Cunningham think about Ron Holland's early exit against the Jazz?
Read more »
What Cade Cunningham Had to Say About Detroit Pistons’ Loss vs JazzCade Cunningham explained the Detroit Pistons' early struggles against the Utah Jazz.
Read more »
Detroit Pistons Coach Speaks on Cade Cunningham's All-Star CaseDetroit Pistons star could be in the mix for first All-Star nomination.
Read more »