Missing Audrii Cunningham: Texas officials believe career criminal was ‘last person to see’ 11-year-old

close Video

Audrii Cunningham disappearance: Person of interest captured on video

Video footage obtained by FOX 26 Houston shows Don Steven McDougal, the person of interest in 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham’s disappearance, in Livingston, Texas, prior to his arrest.

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

Texas authorities on Monday afternoon announced that a person of interest named in connection with the disappearance of Audrii Cunningham was “the last person to see” the still-missing 11-year-old on Feb. 15.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Steven McDougal, 42, on Friday on unrelated charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and gave him “several opportunities to cooperate” with their investigation into Audrii’s disappearance, said Lt. Craig Cummings, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety in Southeast Texas.

“He was probably taking her to…the bus stop, and we do feel that he was the last person to see Audrii,” Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said of McDougal during the Monday press conference, adding that there were “some occasions” when McDougal would take Audrii to the bus stop or even to school if she missed the bus.

Lyons urged the public not to “jump to conclusions” as his office works to build a strong criminal case.

AUDRII CUNNINGHAM DISAPPEARANCE: TEXAS BABYSITTER WITH CRIMINAL RECORD NAMED AS PERSON OF INTEREST

Texas authorities issued a statewide Amber Alert for Audrii Cunningham on Feb. 17. (Facebook/ Joshua Cunningham)

The 11-year-old girl should have gotten on her school bus on the morning of Feb. 15, when she was last seen at her residence in the 100 block of Lakeside Drive, in Polk County, Texas, but she never made it on the bus or to school that day, officials said.

McDougal lived in a camper behind the residence where Audrii lived with her father, grandparents and other family, Cummings said. Audrii’s mother, Cassie Matthews, told FOX 26 Houston that she believed McDougal would babysit the 11-year-old girl while he was staying at her father’s home.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEARCHING FOR MEN WHO WENT MISSING OFF GULF OF MEXICO

Don Steven McDougal was named as a person of interest in connection with the Feb. 15 disappearance of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham of Polk County, Texas. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office/ TDPS)

Investigators are trying to piece together a timeline of McDougal’s movements on the morning of Feb. 15. McDougal agreed to show investigators “certain locations” after his arrest, Lyons said.

A statewide Amber Alert was issued on Feb. 16.

FLORIDA WOMAN DISAPPEARS IN MADRID AFTER SUSPICIOUS TEXT, BLACKED-OUT SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

Audrii Cunningham was supposed to get on her school bus on Feb. 15 but never made it, authorities said. (Polk County sheriff)

Lyons said later that there is a “high probability” that a backpack located in a wooded area near the Livingston Dam belonged to Audrii.

SIGN UP TO GET OUR TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER 

McDougal has an extensive criminal history dating back to the early 2000s. His charges range from enticement of a child in Brazoria County in 2008 to assault of a family member and evading arrest in Liberty County, among dozens of other crimes.

Don Steven McDougal was convicted of enticement of a child in 2008. (Facebook)

Investigators are asking the public to submit any video footage they may have of FM 3126 in Polk County between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 15.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information that could help them convict the person responsible for Audrii’s disappearance.

Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. Email tips to audrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants.