Bodycam footage of Don Steven McDougal shows Swastika-tattooed Audrii Cunningham murder suspect refusing to put on clothes for arraignment and snarling at cops

Don Steven McDougal, the Swastika-tattooed suspect in the brutal murder of Audrii Cunningham, refused to put on clothes for his arraignment and snarled at cops, bodycam footage shows. 

The disturbing video, obtained by ABC, reveals that McDougal was completely naked when Polk County sheriff's deputies opened his cell door last Wednesday.

McDougal, 42, ended up wearing nothing but a blanket around his waist when he stood in front of the justice of the peace for his arraignment in Texas.

The Nazi-tattooed career criminal, who lives on her father's property in a trailer, has been charged with the murder of 11-year-old Cunningham, who went missing earlier this month.

Cunningham's body was found last week in the Trinity River, tied to a rock with a rope that matched one 'observed in McDougal's vehicle on a traffic stop two days prior,' according to the criminal complaint against McDougal. 

Don Steven McDougal, the Swastika-tattooed suspect in the brutal murder of Audrii Cunningham, refused to put on clothes for his arraignment and snarled at cops

The disturbing video, obtained by ABC, reveals that McDougal was completely naked when Polk County sheriff's deputies opened his cell door last Wednesday

McDougal, 42, who lives on her father's property in a trailer, has been charged with the murder of 11-year-old Cunningham, who went missing earlier this month

Cunningham's body was found last week in the Trinity River, tied to a rock with a rope that matched one 'observed in McDougal's vehicle on a traffic stop two days prior,' according to the criminal complaint against McDougal

The video from inside the Polk County Jail captures the shocking moment when deputies found McDougal lying completely naked on the cell's floor. 

'Come on. JP (the justice of the peace) wants to talk to you,' a deputy said as he was shocked to find McDougal had no clothes on. 

'Where's your clothes? Hold on,' the deputy said, to which the alleged murderer answered: 'I ain't got no clothes.'

McDougal then stood up, appearing ready to walk out of his cell with not an ounce of clothing, but the deputy stopped him.

'Well, no, no, man. Come on, man, don't disrespect me like that. Well, wrap up in that. Wrap up in the blanket. Come on. Come on,' the deputy said.

McDougal then walked over to the justice of the peace, who read his Miranda rights and the changes against him. 

'Do you want a court-appointed attorney or hire your own?' the justice then asked and McDougal said, 'no'. 

'Which one?' the justice asked. 'I'll get an attorney,' McDougal answers.

Throughout the conversation, the murder suspect appeared to wear a smirk, with his swastika and SS tattoos clearly visible on his left arm. 

McDougal ended up wearing nothing but a blanket around his waist when he stood in front of the justice of the peace for his arraignment in Texas

Throughout the conversation, the murder suspect appeared to wear a smirk, with his swastika and SS tattoos clearly visible on his left arm

McDougal had joined the search efforts and was seen knocking on neighbor's doors while asking if anyone had seen Cunningham after the 11-year-old went missing  

McDougal has been held on a separate assault charge stemming from an August 2023 incident when police recovered the body of Cunningham. 

Cunningham's family had reported her missing on Thursday after she failed to return after school to her home in Livingston. The alleged killer had taken the girl to the bus stop in the past or would take her to school if she missed the bus, officials said.

After she was reported missing, investigators discovered that she never gotten on the bus to go to school that morning. 

A Hello Kitty backpack that authorities believe belonged to the child was then found on Friday near the dam on Lake Livingston, one of the state's largest lakes.

McDougal had joined the search efforts and was seen knocking on neighbor's doors while asking if anyone had seen Cunningham. 

He claimed on social media he had 'done nothing wrong,' as reported by CNN.

'I have done everything I can to help find her. I have done nothing wrong,' he wrote in a comment on a Facebook page.

As authorities investigated Cunningham's disappearance last week, they had named McDougal as a person of interest and he was arrested Friday on an unrelated assault charge.

Prosecutors have said there is 'substantial evidence' in the case, and that cell phone data and videos helped identify places to search.

Officials added that the Trinity River Authority lowered water levels on the river, which led to the discovery of her body.

McDougal had allegedly walked Cunningham to school on the morning she vanished 

In several photos posted online, McDougal proudly displays his swastika tattoo 

Cunningham's father, Joshua, pictured with the man accused of killing his daughter, Don Steven McDougal

Court records from Brazoria County, south of Houston, show McDougal pleaded no contest to two felony counts of enticing a child stemming from a 2007 incident and was sentenced to two years in prison. 

The sheriff said that the girl's body has been taken to the Harris County medical examiner's office in Houston to determine the cause of death.

Cunningham lived with her father, grandparents and other family members, authorities said. 

Cunningham's mother, Cassie Matthews, told Fox Houston that she believes McDougal and her child's father live together. 

Matthews said that McDougal would regularly be responsible to watching Cunningham while the girl's father was at work. She added that she did not learn of this arrangement until after her daughter disappeared.

McDougal and Joshua Cunningham, Audrii Cunningham's father, are friends on Facebook and are pictured together in some posts. 

Joshua Cunningham claimed he didn't know about McDougal's history of enticing children when he allowed the suspect to stay in his backyard 

The family said Cunningham was 'a charismatic, beautiful, talented, and kind young lady.' She loved singing, dancing, reading, and painting, she was even learning the skills of a tattoo artist' 

In a statement sent to FOX 26, Cunningham's grandmother, Tabitha Munsch, and father expressed their grief and said the system failed them.

Joshua Cunningham claimed he didn't know about McDougal's history of enticing children when he allowed the suspect to stay in his backyard.

'Audrii Danielle Cunningham was lured under false pretenses, which led to a senseless act of violence occurring and ultimately to her death,' they said. 

'Tragically, Audrii's death occurred at the hands of a monster we thought was a friend, only 10 days after Audrii's 11th birthday,' the loved ones said. 

'Unfortunately, the system failed us due to a loophole in the sex offender registration system. Don Steven McDougal had a history of disrespect for young female children, but it did not show up when we checked the registry before allowing him to stay in an old camper in our back yard while he tried to start a new life,' they continued.

'Had we been aware of what we know now, this man would never have set foot on our property, much less been a part of our little girl's life,' their statement says.

 The family said Cunningham was 'a charismatic, beautiful, talented, and kind young lady.' She loved singing, dancing, reading, and painting, she was even learning the skills of a tattoo artist.' 

A public memorial service for Cunningham will be held at Livingston First Baptist Church on Friday, March 1.