7-year-old Athena Strand of Paradise, Texas went missing last Wednesday, November 30 after she was kidnapped by a FedEx Driver. Tragically, authorities found her dead body on Friday, and have taken a suspect into custody. Despite this heinous crime, some of Athena’s family say they forgive the killer. How can that be?
Kidnapped by a FedEx Driver
On the day of Wednesday, November 30, 7-year-old Athena Strand had “a little bit of a” argument with her stepmother. According to Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin this wasn’t any kind of big blowout. It wasn’t “anything unusual,” he said.
However, after that argument, while the stepmother thought the child had gone to her room, she had instead gone outside. And that’s where authorities believe she came upon a man contracted to deliver for FedEx in Wise County, Texas—Tanner Lynn Horner, 31.
Horner, on his FedEx route is believed to have kidnapped the child from right in front of her home.
A short time after the argument with Athena Strand, the stepmother went to check on the girl in her bedroom, but she wasn’t there. After looking for her stepdaughter for about an hour, the stepmother then contacted authorities, explaining that the child was missing, and an Amber Alert was sent out across the area.
Following the alert, police were given a tip that Horner’s route was in the same area where Athena Strand lived. After he was brought in, Horner confessed to killing the child, and he was charged with the aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of Athena Strand.
While Horner originally refused to give details of the murder or a motive, authorities have learned the girl kidnapped by a FedEx driver was snatched right in front of the family home, at the time that a package was to be delivered—sadly, a package that was meant to be a Christmas present for the young girl.
Since the confession, there has been an alleged confession by Horner, as explained by Twitter user, Rose. Read her Tweet below, that says he explains the kidnapping was because he accidentally hit her with his truck.
Tanner Horner made a confession-
I accidentally hit her with my Fed Ex truck while I was backing out. She was fine. Told me her name. I did not want her to tell her dad, so I decided to end her life.
He is full of shit. #AthenaStrand
— Rose (@901Lulu) December 8, 2022
Despite this explanation, many are skeptical. While it was believed that Horner did not have a previous criminal record, a woman who claimed to know Horner posted on Facebook that she had been raped by Horner when she was 16 years old. TV reporter, Vanessa Brown tweeted the woman’s Facebook post. Check that out here:
A woman on Facebook claims he raped her when she was 16, but no one believed her. She has posted it repeatedly over the years— not just after #AthenaStrand’s murder. I covered her name in case she doesn’t want it widespread. But sadly, a likely ex. of the system failing victims. https://t.co/V6639Uls0R pic.twitter.com/m83zXV7IUs
— Vanessa Brown (@VanessaBrownTV) December 3, 2022
Whatever happened to the child, authorities found her body in the Trinity River, which is around seven miles from the Strand home. At this time, authorities haven’t given a cause of death, but have said that she’s believed to have died within an hour of when she was kidnapped by a FedEx driver.
Across media platforms, many have voiced condolences to the family, and have mourned along with them.
One individual commented on a Facebook post that Athena Strand’s grandfather made, telling her grandfather, “May God bless you and keep you in his warm embrace. Your precious Athena watches over you now and you will meet again one day.”
But it is clear that the family members are mourning and processing this tragedy differently…