Authorities in Livingston, Texas, have officially designated an area near US-59 and the Trinity River Bridge as a crime scene in connection with the disappearance of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham. Audrii went missing on February 15, after failing to reach her school bus in the morning. Police have named Don Steven McDougal, a friend of Audrii's father, as a primary person of interest in the case.

McDougal reportedly admitted to leaving the house with Audrii on the morning of her disappearance but has been uncooperative in providing further details to investigators. McDougal's background includes a criminal record, with a past indictment for attempted indecency with a child, though he ultimately pleaded down to a lesser charge of child enticement in 2008.

Notably, McDougal was seen at a mechanic shop near Highway 59 in Livingston on the day Audrii went missing, exhibiting suspicious behavior according to shop workers. Following Audrii's disappearance, authorities discovered a backpack believed to belong to the missing girl at the Livingston Dam. McDougal is currently in the Polk County Jail on an unrelated aggravated assault charge.

Community volunteers have been assisting in search efforts along the Trinity River, with authorities cautioning the public to stay away from certain areas. While investigators are piecing together a timeline of events leading up to Audrii's disappearance, there have been no confessions or official charges tied to the case thus far.

Anyone with information regarding Audrii Cunningham's disappearance is urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 936-327-6810.