Capital Murder Suspect Charged in Texas Girl’s Death Previously Accused of Stabbing Man
Livingston, Texas – In a shocking turn of events, Steven McDougal, who is currently facing charges of capital murder in the death of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, was previously accused of stabbing a man in Livingston. The revelation has left the community in disbelief and has raised questions about McDougal’s history of violent behavior.
The incident involving McDougal’s alleged stabbing occurred six months prior to Audrii’s tragic death. According to court documents, it all started when a woman approached McDougal’s victim, claiming her car had broken down and she needed assistance. Little did the victim know that he was about to fall victim to a brutal attack.
Attorney David Feldman, who represents the victim, recounted the harrowing details of the incident. “As he approaches the vehicle, he’s ambushed and stabbed. He was stabbed in the back three times,” Feldman said. The accused attacker was later identified as Steven McDougal.
Shockingly, McDougal was not immediately arrested following the incident. Feldman revealed that his client had informed the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on multiple occasions, starting in September of 2023, that McDougal was the person responsible for stabbing him. It raises concerns about law enforcement’s response to the initial incident and their handling of McDougal as a potential threat to the community.
The situation took a chilling turn when McDougal was named a person of interest in Audrii’s disappearance. This prompted Feldman’s client to notify authorities once again about McDougal’s involvement. Hours later, McDougal was finally charged for the August stabbing, with investigators stating that he confessed to the crime during questioning about Audrii’s case.
Since then, more victims and witnesses have come forward with accounts of McDougal’s alleged crimes. Katelyn Bolin, who had a previous friendship with McDougal, recounted a disturbing incident from 2019. According to court records, McDougal had violently attacked Bolin’s ex-boyfriend with a metal pipe.
Bolin shared her chilling experience, stating that McDougal had asked them for a ride, promising to provide gas money and claiming he needed transportation to a friend’s house for work the following day. However, things quickly took a dark turn when they arrived at a remote location near County Road 460 and 1409 near Dayton.
“He started getting a little weird. He was like, all right, just pull up to this little driveway right here. Well, the driveway had no house at the end of it,” Bolin recalled. As they exited the vehicle, Bolin witnessed a horrifying scene unfold before her eyes. “All I could see was a metal pipe fly up in the air and slap Tyler in the head, and all I heard was Tyler screaming, stop, stop!”
Terrified, Bolin called 911 after finding her phone hidden by McDougal in the back seat. She recounted how McDougal threatened her, urging her to hang up the call. However, Bolin stood her ground, knowing that law enforcement was on their way. McDougal managed to escape into the nearby woods but was later apprehended after stealing a car.
The motive behind McDougal’s violent actions remains unclear. Bolin expressed her reasons for speaking out following Audrii’s tragic death, emphasizing the importance of being cautious about those we surround ourselves and our children with. “It’s crazy how you think you know someone and then you don’t know them at all,” she said.
Currently, McDougal is being held without bond in the Polk County Jail on charges of capital murder in connection with Audrii Cunningham’s death. The community is left grappling with the devastating loss of a young girl and the horrifying revelation of McDougal’s alleged history of violence. The case raises important questions about the criminal justice system’s handling of potential threats and the need for increased vigilance when it comes to protecting our loved ones from harm.
