Authorities have expanded the search for a missing child from Polk County to neighboring San Jacinto County, following the discovery of suspicious items near Browder’s Marina in the Camilla area. The quest to locate Audrii Cunningham now involves the Texas Rangers, Polk and San Jacinto sheriff’s offices, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and a growing concern among the local communities.
Cunningham was last seen near her home on the 100 block of Lakeside Drive at 7 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. An Amber Alert was issued Thursday evening when the child did not turn up after school.
“Audrii should have caught the school bus at her neighborhood bus stop; however, school officials reported to the sheriff’s office that the school bus did not pick Audrii up, nor did she report to school,” according to a statement from Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons.
On Friday morning, the search was extended to San Jacinto County after items that may belong to the child were found near Browder’s Marina, which is located just below the Lake Livingston Dam.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said specific information about those items is not being released at this time; however, the items were relevant enough to prompt searches in the water by dive and sonar teams, drone searches by air, and search dogs from TDCJ. Both the woods and water near the marina, which borders the Trinity River, are being searched at this time.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has issued a public appeal for help in the missing girl’s disappearance. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 936-327-6810 or submit an anonymous tip through p3tips.com.
Audrii is described as a white female with blonde hair and blue eyes. She weighs 75 pounds and is approximately 4-feet and 1-inch tall. She was last seen wearing black pants, black hoodie with white lettering and black high-top tennis shoes. She was also carrying a “Hello Kitty” style backpack.