Audrii Cunningham’s killer, Don Steven McDougal, didn’t have to register as a sex offender despite a violent history that included child molestation.
Audrii Cunningham’s killer, Don Steven McDougal, didn’t have to register as a sex offender despite a violent history that included child molestation.
Audrii Cunningham’s killer, Don Steven McDougal, didn’t have to register as a sex offender despite a violent history that included child molestation.
POLK COUNTY, Texas — A bill designed to help protect children from sexual predators has been filed in the Texas Legislature.
Texas House Bill 2000, or Audrii’s Law, named after 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, was filed by Rep. Trent Ashby.
The Polk County girl was murdered last February by ex-con Don Steven McDougal, a family friend who had a history of preying on children. In 2007, McDougal was convicted of enticing a child with intent out of Brazoria County. Under current Texas law, he didn’t have to register as a sex offender.
If passed, Audrii’s Law would change that.
“It is unconscionable that a violent criminal like McDougal was arrested and charged for attempting to molest a child and then was able to walk the streets without registering as a sex offender,” Ashby said in a statement, the Lufkin Daily News reported. “Criminals with a history like McDougal need to be on a publicly available list so that people can protect themselves and their families from tragedies like what occurred in Polk County.”
After Audrii was murdered, Andy Kahan, director of victim services and advocacy for Crime Stoppers of Houston, began contacting state leaders to push for tougher laws.
“I’ve already been in touch with several state senators and state representatives who, like everyone else, was just horrified and dumbfounded that this wasn’t already an offense that you had to register,” Kahan told KHOU 11 last February.
McDougal gets life sentence in plea deal
Last week, McDougal pleaded guilty to capital murder to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. He also can’t appeal the sentence.
According to the Polk County District Attorney’s Office, McDougal wouldn’t have been eligible for the death penalty due to documented intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said McDougal, a family friend, was supposed to take Audrii to the bus stop on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, but she never arrived. Audrii’s family reported her missing when she didn’t come home from school that afternoon and a statewide AMBER Alert was issued.
The girl’s body was found in the Trinity River following an extensive week-long search.
McDougal, who was jailed on an unrelated assault charge, was questioned multiple times about Audrii’s disappearance.
Investigators used cellphone records, video surveillance of McDougal’s vehicle, and statements from him to narrow their search areas to three points of interest, including where Audrii was eventually found. Her wet backpack was found near Lake Livingston after McDougal told them that’s where he went after taking Audrii to the bus stop.
KHOU 11 coverage on the case
KHOU 11 News followed this story closely.
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