Texas authorities announced Monday afternoon that a person of interest named in connection with Audrey Cunningham’s disappearance was the “last person to see” the still-missing 11-year-old boy on February 15th. did.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office agents arrested Stephen McDougal, 42, on Friday on an unrelated charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, giving him “several opportunities to cooperate” in the investigation into Audrey’s disappearance. said Lt. Craig Cummings, a Texas state spokesman. Southeast Texas Department of Public Safety.
Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said of McDougall at a news conference Monday: “He probably walked her to the bus stop and I feel like he was the last person to see Audrey.” He added that there were “several scenes”. Mr. McDougall would take Audrey to the bus stop and take her to school if she missed her bus.
Lyons said his office was working to build a strong criminal case and urged the public not to “jump to conclusions.”
Audrey Cunningham disappearance: Texas babysitter with criminal history named as person of interest
Texas authorities issued a statewide Amber Alert for Audrey Cunningham on February 17th. (Facebook/Joshua Cunningham)
The 11-year-old girl was supposed to board a school bus on the morning of February 15, when she was last seen at her home in the 100 block of Lakeside Drive in Polk County, Texas, but she never got on the school bus. She took the bus or went to school that day, officials said.
Cummings said McDougall lived in a camper behind the residence where Audrey lived with her father, grandparents and other family members. Audrey’s mother, Kathy Matthews, told FOX 26 Houston that she trusted McDougal to babysit the 11-year-old girl while she stayed at her father’s home. She said there was.
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Don Stephen McDougall has been named a person of interest in connection with the February 15 disappearance of 11-year-old Audrey Cunningham of Polk County, Texas. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office/TDPS)
Investigators are trying to piece together a timeline of McDougal’s actions on the morning of February 15th. Lyons said McDougall agreed to show investigators “specific locations” after his arrest.
A statewide Amber Alert was issued on February 16th.
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Audrey Cunningham was scheduled to board the school bus on February 15th, but she didn’t make it in time, authorities said. (Polk County Sheriff)
Mr Lyons later said it was “likely” that the backpack found in a wooded area near Livingston Dam belonged to Audrey.
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For McDougall, extensive criminal history It goes back to the early 2000s. His charges range from child enticement in 2008 in Brazoria County to assault on a family member and evading arrest in Liberty County, among dozens of other crimes.
Don Stephen McDougall was convicted of child enticement in 2008. (Facebook)
Investigators are asking the public to submit video footage of FM 3126 in Polk County between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 15.
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Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information that could help convict those responsible for Audrey’s disappearance.
