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: Law enforcement officials said they will continue the search for a missing Livingston girl on Saturday after wrapping up their search efforts Friday evening.
Audrii Cunningham, 11, hasn't been seen since 7 a.m. Thursday. Her family reported her missing after she didn't get off the school bus Thursday afternoon, which prompted an AMBER Alert. Investigators learned Audrii never got on the school bus Thursday morning, nor did she attend school.
On Friday, an area near the south end of Lake Livingston was the focal point of the search. Texas DPS said the area was a "location of interest" and leads led them there.
"That's the reason why we got the effort," Lt. Craig Cummings said. "That's the reason why we have the dogs here. That's the reason why the boats have been here. All this in an effort to find Audrii."
Law enforcement paused the search efforts for Audrii on Friday at about 5 p.m. because they said it was getting dark. The search will resume Saturday around daybreak and extra resources will be on hand to help, Cummings said.
"We will have deputies here to protect this location and the investigative efforts that have been uncovered up to this point," Cummings said. "We are asking the public to stay away from this area."
'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 latest update from Teas DPS in the video player below: