A Texas man charged with capital murder in the death of 11-year-old girl Audrii Cunningham, whose body was found in a river nearly a year ago, has confessed to kidnapping and killing the girl, authorities announced Friday.
Don Steven McDougal, who was reportedly a friend of the victim’s family, accepted a plea deal voluntarily and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“The Polk County District Attorney’s Office is announcing today that Don Steven McDougal has accepted responsibility for his actions in the kidnapping and murder of Audrii Cunningham,” Polk County Criminal District Attorney Shelly Bush Sitton said Friday in a press release.
McDougal will spend “the rest of his life behind bars without the opportunity to appeal or seek parole,” Sitton added. “This agreement reflects the gravity of the offenses committed and ensures the safety of our community and our children.”
The plea was finalized during a special hearing Friday morning at the Polk County Judicial Center, local station KPRC reported. The 43-year-old remained shackled and handcuffed during the hearing and never addressed the victim’s family. He only spoke when addressing the judge, the outlet reported.
Audrii’s loved ones delivered powerful victim statements when describing the pain McDougal has caused them.
“She gave my family purpose, and you stole that from me,” her father, Josh Cunningham, said when addressing McDougal. “I hope you have a very short life sentence.”
“You took away the life of our little angel,” said Audrii’s grandmother Tabitha Munsch. “May you rot in hell.”
Audrii was last seen on her way to school on Feb. 15, 2024. She failed to make it to her bus and never reported to class, school officials told authorities.
McDougal, who was living in a trailer behind the girl’s family home in Livingston, joined a massive search effort that followed her disappearance and was even seen knocking on doors to ask about her whereabouts.
Her body was found about a week later in the Trinity River, just south of her hometown. Authorities said the little girl’s body was tied to a large rock.
The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that she died from homicidal violence including blunt force trauma.