LIVINGSTON, Texas – Investigators in Audrii Cunningham’s disappearance have zeroed in on a person of interest who has spent time in prison for enticing a child, a third degree felony, after being indicted by a Brazoria County grand jury for attempted indecency with a child.
11-year-old Audrii Cunningham hasn’t been seen since Thursday morning, and investigators said 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal is likely the last person who saw her that day.
He is the main person of interest in Cunningham’s disappearance and is currently in the Polk County Jail on an unrelated charge. Investigators haven’t ruled anyone out.
McDougal, who has a lengthy criminal history, was previously convicted of enticing a child in Brazoria County, records obtained by KPRC 2 show.
In March 2007, McDougal allegedly attempted to engage in sexual contact with a girl under the age of 17.
According to a grand jury indictment, McDougal removed another female from the bed where the victim was sleeping before he got in the bed with the victim and “(pulled) her pajama bottoms and panties down.”
A Brazoria County grand jury indicted him in July 2007 and his bond was set at $25,000 at the time.
More than a year later, in September 2008, records show he pled guilty to enticing a child, a third degree felony in Texas.
McDougal was sentenced to two years in Texas Department of Criminal Justice custody and given credit for 527 days, according to court documents.
He was not required to register as a sex offender, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety said at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
Investigators said he lived in a camper behind the home of Cunningham’s father and grandmother. He would sometimes take her to the bus stop or to school if she missed the bus.
McDougal has admitted to leaving the house with Cunningham on Thursday morning, but hasn’t acknowledged whether she made it to the bus stop that day, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said.
She was not reported missing until a family member called around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, DPS said.