Nowadays parents are extra vigilant about the whereabouts of their children, and should be.
A Texas mother and family are mourning the senseless murder of their seven-year-old child.
Although details are not completely clear, it appears that Athena Strand was playing in her driveway after returning from school to the home of her father and stepmother, who she was staying with until Christmas. Her stepmother apparently was in the house. Her father was away on a deer hunting trip.
The girl was snatched from the driveway by a FedEx driver who had apparently dropped off a package at the home.
On Friday, December 2, Texas police arrested and charged the FedEx driver, Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, with the kidnapping and subsequent murder.
In a press conference on Friday, Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said that Athena Strand was abducted and probably within an hour, she was murdered by Horner.
Athena’s body was found by police on Friday night about 10 miles from her father’s house. She had been reported missing on Wednesday by her stepmother.
Tanner Horner is being held at the Wise County jail. He confessed to kidnapping and killing the child and has been charged with capital murder of someone under ten years old and aggravated kidnapping. His bond is set at $1.5 million.
Police said Horner is a contract driver for FedEx, and he was allegedly making a delivery to the house, after which he abducted the girl.
At the press conference on Friday, Sheriff Akin said the police had received a tip that pointed to the FedEx driver, Horner.
According to the Sheriff, Horner did not likely know the girl or her family. The motive for the murder is not known.
Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother, who lives in Oklahoma, wrote on Facebook on Saturday that a “sick and cruel monster” took her daughter from her for absolutely no reason. She said Athena was a beautiful, innocent, kind, and bright person who was always happy.
Gandy said Athena’s dream was to grow up and become a Viking princess with lots of tattoos like her father.
Athena’s mother, Gandy, spoke at a memorial service at the Cottondale Baptist Church in Wise County. Over 1,000 people attended the service and showed their support and love to the family at the church.