Authorities have determined that 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham died from blunt force trauma, ruling her death as a homicide after her body was discovered tied to a rock in a lake. The tragic incident unfolded after she failed to board the school bus on February 15 and was reported missing in Livingston, Texas.

Don Steven McDougal, a family friend with a criminal history, has been charged with Audrii's murder. McDougal, who was taken into police custody on an unrelated assault charge, is accused of having ties to the crime. Reports reveal that the man, who lived on Audrii's father's property in a trailer, had Nazi tattoos visible on his arm.

Following a widespread search effort, the girl's body was recovered from the Trinity River on Tuesday due to detailed investigations that involved cell phone records, video analysis, and information provided by McDougal. The discovery led authorities to lower water levels in the river, aiding in the recovery process.

McDougal, already a person of interest in Audrii's disappearance, had allegedly taken her to the school bus stop in the past. As the investigation unfolded, a Hello Kitty backpack believed to belong to the child was found near Lake Livingston, further indicating the grim turn of events.

The tragic outcome has left the community in mourning, with Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons expressing his deepest sympathies to those impacted by Audrii's untimely death. Medical examiners are working to determine the exact cause of her passing as McDougal remains in custody, facing charges related to the heinous crime.

Audrii's family, shaken by the devastating loss, had reported her missing, sparking a statewide search that ultimately unraveled a tragic series of events leading to her demise. As the case unfolds, authorities continue to piece together the events that led to such a heartbreaking conclusion.