A Texas community will gather Sunday to pray for Audrii Cunningham as authorities continue to search for the missing 11-year-old girl, KHOU-TV reports.
Cunningham was last seen Thursday morning and did not make it to school.
The prayer vigil is scheduled to begin around noon Sunday at the Polk County VFW Post in Livingston at 4951 Hwy 190 West.
“Audrii loves the VFW and has spent many days making us laugh and learning to dance,” a Facebook post from the VFW read. “Our hearts are breaking We love you sweet girl.”
On Saturday, the Texas Department of Public Safety identified 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal as a “person of interest” in Cunningham’s disappearance.
McDougal was arrested Friday night on what is believed to be an unrelated charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He has not been named a suspect publicly, but he has been booked into the Polk County Jail.
McDougal’s criminal record includes a 2007 conviction for enticing a minor, according to KHOU-TV.
Authorities have reportedly identified other persons of interest but have not disclosed the identities of those individuals.
Earlier on Saturday, authorities announced that a dark blue Chevrolet Suburban was a “vehicle of interest.” Police “have control” of the SUV but want to speak with anyone who may have seen it in recent days.
Meanwhile, crews on Sunday continued their search for Cunningham, according to KPRC-TV. The search includes an area near Lake Livingston, where a backpack near a dam was found. The backpack appeared to be a child’s backpack and investigators were examining its contents.
Cunningham is a white female, about 4-foot-1 and around 75 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing black pants, a black hoodie with white lettering and black high-top shoes.
To report information about Cunningham or her location, call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 936-327-6810.
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[Feature Photo: via Polk County Sheriff’s Coffee]
