A proposed bill known as Audrii’s Law aims to better protect Texas children by requiring individuals convicted of child grooming to register as sex offenders.
The bill, filed by Texas Representative Trent Ashby, was filed in memory of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who was murdered by a man with a prior history of predatory behavior.
Recommended Videos
“Today, I have filed HB 2000, Audrii’s Law, named in memory of Audrii Cunningham, whose life was tragically ended in February of last year,” Ashby said in a statement. “Audrii’s death rocked our community, and this legislation seeks to prevent future tragedies by closing a legal loophole that allows violent sex offenders to stay off the sex offender registry.”
If passed, the law would require individuals convicted of child grooming to be added to the Texas Sex Offender Registry, a provision not currently mandated under Texas law. The bill would apply to cases beginning September 1, 2025.
Why Audrii’s Law was filed
The legislation was inspired by the tragic death of Cunningham, who was murdered in February 2024 by Don Steven McDougal. McDougal, who was living in a camper behind Audrii’s family home at the time of the murder, had a history of predatory behavior.
In 2007, McDougal was accused of attempting to molest a young girl but avoided being added to the sex offender registry after striking a plea deal. He pled guilty to a lesser charge of enticing a child, which does not require sex offender registration under current Texas law.
“It is unconscionable that a violent criminal like McDougal was able to walk the streets without registering as a sex offender,” Ashby said. “Criminals with a history like McDougal need to be on a publicly available list so that people can protect themselves and their families from tragedies like what occurred in Polk County.”
The proposed law aims to ensure such loopholes are closed.
Closing gaps in Texas law
Andy Kahan, Director of Victim Services at Crime Stoppers of Houston, has been advocating for this change since Audrii’s murder.
Kahan spoke to KPRC 2’s Corley Peel after Cunningham’s murder and pointed out that while McDougal’s 2007 charge involved clear intent to harm a child, the legal loophole allowed him to avoid the registry due to the lesser charge.
READ MORE: Crime Stoppers leader pushes to change sex offender registry laws after Audrii Cunningham’s death
The bill also responds to recent changes in Texas law. During the 88th Legislative Session, child grooming was officially criminalized in the state. However, those convicted of the crime are not currently required to register as sex offenders. HB 2000 seeks to change that by adding child grooming to the list of offenses requiring registry inclusion.
“House Bill 2000 will add child grooming to the Sex Offender Registry and address the shortcomings in the law that tragically failed Audrii Cunningham and her family,” Ashby said.
KPRC2 Reporter Corley Peel spoke with Kahan after the proposed bill was filed. He said he is confident Audrii’s Law will eventually be passed.
“The important thing is, what can we do to prevent this from happening in the future and keep more Audrii Cunninghams from happening? Passing this law, Audrii’s, law will do that,” said Kahan.
Latest update
On January 17, 2025, McDougal accepted a plea deal for a life sentence without the possibility of parole. McDougal was indicted in April 2024 on two counts of capital murder after Cunningham went missing and was later found dead in the Trinity River.
READ MORE: