"Uncovering the Truth: New Details in Audrii Cunningham's Tragic Case"

New audio obtained by KPRC 2 reveals details of a past criminal investigation involving Don Steven McDougal, the man accused of killing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham. The audio suggests that the Polk County Sheriff admitted to mishandling the case, acknowledging that they "dropped the ball" in the investigation into McDougal's alleged stabbing of another individual. The sheriff's office stated that they didn't have enough evidence to arrest McDougal for the stabbing until his confession to the Texas Rangers after Audrii disappeared. The case against McDougal didn't advance until six months after the stabbing and one week before Audrii's disappearance, prompting criticism from the victim's attorney and raising questions about law enforcement's handling of the situation.