LIVINGSTON, Texas – The mother of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, whose disappearance Thursday prompted the issuance of an Amber Alert, shared what she knew about the search for her daughter Friday.
“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 family, she has so many people that love her and adore her,” said Cassie Matthews.
According to law enforcement, Cunningham was dropped off at her bus stop Thursday around 7 a.m. but never made it on the bus or to school. Her family reported her missing around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, said Texas DPS Lt. Craig Cummings.
“We have no leads so we are grasping at any string, any signs, anything in general,” Matthews said.
She said they originally started the search behind Audrii’s home, where she lives with her father, but that hasn’t been verified by law enforcement.
“Search began in the wood line behind her home because it leads to the state park, now she is known to like to explore the woods, she likes to look at the little animals,” Matthews said.
According to Matthews, Audrii stays with her father and her grandmother.
Investigators paused the search for Audrii on Friday night, but planned to resume searching at Lake Livingston near the dam on Saturday morning. They haven’t shared any other locations of interest.
“Hard is an understatement, this is the stuff you see on TV and you can only imagine what the family and the parents are going through and there’s not words for it. There is not one feeling you feel, its a roller coaster, you are broken, you are mad, you are empty and right now I am empty,” Matthews said. “She has so many opportunities ahead of her, and she deserves every right to be able to reach those opportunities.”
Multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting in the search for Cunningham, including the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the FBI.
“I am not going to be the same unless my baby is returned to me and neither is her family, any of us, any of her friends, any of the people that she has been connected to in the community,” Matthews said.