21 February 2024 , 17:32
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The tragic end to the frantic six-day search for Audrii Cunningham, who was found dead Tuesday in the Trinity River near Livingston, Texas, brought sorrow and devastation not only to her close ones and the local community but also to people across the nation who prayed for the child as the case unfolded.
Police believe they have enough evidence to prove that her suspected murderer, Steven Don McDougal, led the innocent child to her death. The 42-year-old man with criminal history including child enticement offences, was far from a stranger to the girl. He was in her father's close environment and reportedly lived in a camper within the family’s property.
The 11-year-old girl lived with her father, who remains silent after having failed to provide his child with a safe and secure environment to grow up. Audrii's mother, on the other hand, has spoken out about her grief and feelings of failure.
READ MORE: Audrii Cunningham: Unanswered questions as girl, 11, vanishes from bus stop before body found in river
Audrii Cunningham was tragically found dead (KHOU)Cassie Matthews said she believed her daughter was in a safe and loving environment with her father, but now feels she was deceived and bullied into submission by her father's family.
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She said: "I’ll make this clear one time and one time only, I failed my daughter by being bullied into submission by her father’s family and being made to believe she was in a safe, loving, and normal home with her father."
McDougal says 'I'm innocent'
According to police, McDougal had joined in the search efforts for the missing girl and even knocked on doors to try and find her. Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons told CNN: "Some of the witnesses have even said that he was in the community and knocking on doors … asking have they seen her."
Don McDougal, the suspect in Audrii's death (Facebook)He added: "To me, it simply tells me that he’s trying to give the appearance that he has no play or he’s not at fault in her disappearance and that (he’s) part of the concerned parties who were trying to locate her."
The suspect is reported to have taken to social media last week to confess his innocence after posting "I’m not guilty" under a post on the Facebook page 'True Crime Society' the day after Audrii Cunningham was reported missing.
McDougal wrote: "I was there and was questioned. I am not running or hiding. I have done everything I can to help find her. I have done nothing wrong.” While another comment reads: “I am the one that went and knocked on the houses by the bus stop to get video footage."
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Grieving mother lashes out at 'bull****' drug rumours
Amid the stinging tragedy, Cassie Matthews, the mother, expressed her profound anguish and frustration in a heartfelt message shared on Facebook days before Audrii's dead body was found. She began by acknowledging her sense of failure, hinting at underlying tensions within the family stating, "I failed my daughter by being bullied into submission by her father's family."
Audrii Cunningham disappeared on her way to school (Facebook)Matthews expressed regret for being misled into believing that Audrii was in a safe environment with her father, only to be confronted with the harsh reality of her daughter's untimely demise. Amidst a swirl of rumours Matthews refuted claims about her losing custody of Audrii due to drug use. She declared: "That is my daughter, and I never lost any rights to her."
And went on blasting the speculation surrounding her alleged drug use: "If you can provide me a record that states I failed a drug test for court in the custody of Audrii THEN AND ONLY THEN can you ACCURATELY state I was on drugs, chose drugs over my child, did drugs around my child. [...] I could give a f–k less what everyone thinks. What you think and your judgment isn’t giving my daughter back."