Current:Home > NewsDon Steven McDougal indicted in murder, attempted kidnapping of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham -BeyondProfit Compass
Don Steven McDougal indicted in murder, attempted kidnapping of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham
View
Date:2025-04-13 10:59:29
A Texas grand jury indicted Don Steven McDougal on two counts of capital murder on Monday in the death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, court documents showed.
McDougal, a family friend, was indicted in Polk County on charges of intentionally and knowingly causing the death of Audrii by blunt force trauma to the head with an unknown object and of causing her death while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping.
Audrii was reported missing after not boarding her neighborhood school bus on the morning of Feb. 15, CBS Texas reported. She was last seen near her home in Livingston, Texas, about 75 miles northeast of Houston.
McDougal was arrested the next day on an unrelated charge of aggravated assault, CBS Texas reported. He was then named as a person of interest in Audrii's disappearance after witnesses linked his dark blue Chevrolet Suburban to the case.
Audrii's body was found in the Trinity River on Feb. 20, about 10 miles from her home.
"She was perfection," Cassie Matthews, Audrii's mother, said about her daughter at a vigil held the day after Audrii's body was found. Family and friends gathered for the vigil wearing purple and carrying purple balloons as they prayed.
—Caitlin O'Kane contributed reporting.
S. DevS. Dev is a news editor for CBSNews.com.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
Ranking
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
Recommendation
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales