LIVINGSTON, Texas — UPDATE: The body of Audrii Cunningham was found on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in the Trinity River near US-59. Read more here.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Community members gathered for a prayer vigil Sunday as the search for Audrii Cunningham, the missing 11-year-old girl at the center of an AMBER Alert, continued.
The vigil took place at the VFW Post in Polk County at noon, allowing space for family and the community to heal.
"You got to have faith in the good Lord, and the more we pray, the more he hears," Ray Epps said. "She used to come in with her uncle help him out on dance nights and she was just full of life."
After the vigil, Audrii's uncle spoke to media and asked people on social media not to speculate on the search.
"I realize that everybody's talking a bunch of stuff on Facebook and stuff like that. I'm going to ask that if you don't know anything, don't say anything. All you're doing is hurting the family," said Chris Boothe. "You don't know what they're going through. You don't know the circumstances. I do know Audrii is loved, I know Audrii is cared for."
Boothe asked that if people know anything to keep submitting tips to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
"We want her home," he said. "This is a tragic incident."
Audrii has been missing since not getting on her school bus Thursday morning, officials said. While looking for her on Friday, investigators discovered a backpack that appeared to belong to a child, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Craig Cummings.
Search efforts were initially focused on a southern area of Lake Livingston on Friday and Texas EquuSearch was seen looking for her in an area near I-59 and the Trinity River on Saturday.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is offering a $7,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in this case.
Watch the update DPS gave Saturday afternoon:
Person of interest identified
On Saturday, DPS identified Don Steven McDougal, 42, among the persons of interest in the search for Audrii. Earlier that day, his vehicle, a dark blue Chevrolet Suburban, was also identified as what DPS called a vehicle of interest.
McDougal was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail late Friday night on unrelated aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges.
Officials have the vehicle of interest in custody and believe it may be tied to Audrii's disappearance. If you've seen his vehicle in the past few days, you're asked to contact authorities.
Records show McDougal has a lengthy criminal history. In 2007, he was convicted of enticing a minor with intent out of Brazoria County.
McDougal has not been named a suspect in the case.