The Texas man believed to have killed 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham reportedly has a lengthy criminal history which includes crimes against children.
On Tuesday, Cunningham’s body was found tied to a rock with rope in the Trinity River. Polk County police issued an AMBER Alert on February 15, after Cunningham did not board her bus or show up at school.
Before Cunningham was found dead, Don Steven McDougal, 42, was arrested on an unrelated unrelated aggravated assault charge. McDougal, who lives in a trailer behind the home where Cunningham lives with her father, allegedly admitted to leaving Cunningham’s home with her on the day she disappeared.
On Wednesday, Polk County prosecutors charged McDougal with Cunningham’s capital murder.
DOCS: NAZI-FREAK SEX PERV Charged with Capital Murder, 11-year-old Found Dead & Weighed Down with Rock
KRIV reported that McDougal’s lengthy criminal history dates back to 2001, starting with an arrest in Cleveland for marijuana possession. The following year, he assaulted a public servant which led to a 5-year sentence.
According to My San Antonio, McDougal was arrested in 2007 in Brazoria for enticing a child — but he was not required to register as a sex offender.
Most recently, in September 2023, he was arrested in Conroe for resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty to the charge the following month.
KRIV provided a list of McDougal’s other criminal offenses, which include:
- 2003: possession of a dangerous drug, assault of a public servant
- 2005: evading arrest or detention
- 2006: theft of more than $1,500, possession of meth less than 1 gram.
- 2007: enticing a child
- 2009: unauthorized use of a vehicle
- 2010: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
- 2014: theft of property less than $500, reckless driving.
- 2019: assault causing bodily injury
- 2020: unauthorized use of a vehicle, harassment
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[Feature Photo: Audrii Cunningham/Polk County SO; McDougal/Montgomery County Jail]
