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: The Texas Department of Public Safety has identified a person of interest in the search for Audrii Cunningham, the 11-year-old Livingston girl at the center of an AMBER Alert.
Saturday morning, DPS also identified what they're calling a "vehicle of interest" in the search for Audrii – a dark blue Chevrolet Suburban belonging to Don Steven McDougal, who, on Saturday afternoon, was identified as the main person of interest in this case.
Crews with Texas EquuSearch showed up at Lake Livingston to look for the girl around 6 a.m. Saturday after search efforts were paused Friday evening around 5 p.m. On Friday, the search was focused on an area near the south end of the lake. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the area was a "location of interest" and that leads led them there.
EquuSearch started searching an area near I-59 and the Trinity River on Saturday.
McDougal was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail late Friday night on unrelated aggravated assault charges.
DPS spokesperson Craig Cummings said investigators on Friday identified a backpack at the dam that is consistent with belonging to a child. Investigators were evaluating what was inside the backpack.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is offering a $7,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.
Watch the update Texas DPS gave Saturday afternoon:
Audrii hasn't been seen since 7 a.m. Thursday. Her family reported her missing after she didn't get off the bus Thursday afternoon, which prompted an AMBER Alert. Investigators learned Audrii never got on the school bus Thursday morning, nor did she attend school.
'She's such a great child'
Audrii's mom, Casey Matthews, couldn't hold back tears when she spoke to KHOU 11 about her missing daughter.
For Matthews, Audrii's disappearance is unusual because she said it's not like her to run off. She said Audrii is a great child who is smart, fun and caring.
"She has so many opportunities ahead of her and deserves every right to reach those opportunities," Matthews said. "She should be at home where we know she's safe, and she's warm, and she's fed, and she should be with her little brother. She should be doing what Audrii does -- smiling, laughing, making everybody else smile and laugh."
Matthews said Audrii stays with her dad, her grandmother, and a man who allegedly dropped her off at her bus stop Thursday morning.
"Nobody has any clue actually as to where she might be," Matthews said. "They do have one person that they are looking into. Other than that, we have no leads."
Matthews said police began the search for Audrii at the woodline behind her dad's house because it leads to the state park. Audrii likes to explore the woods and look at the animals, Matthews said. She said the search then expanded to a dam because the man who dropped her off at the school bus said he went there afterward.
"I'm being told that they possibly found her backpack in this area, but no signs of her," Matthews said.
Matthews wanted to spread the word about Audrii's disappearance and asked for any and all help when it came to finding her daughter.
"I’m not going to be the same unless my baby is returned to me and neither is her family," she said.
Audrii has blonde hair and blue eyes. She's about 4 feet and 1 inch tall and weighs about 75 pounds. She was wearing a black hoodie with white lettering, a camo backpack, black pants and black high-top tennis shoes the last time she was seen.
Investigators said they are actively speaking to persons of interest and ask anyone with information on Audrii's disappearance to call either the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 936-327-6810 or 911. You can also report on iWatchTexas App.
The Texas DPS, Texas Rangers, San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office, the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the FBI are all working together to bring Audrii home safely.
Watch the update Texas DPS gave Friday afternoon: