Athena Strand - update: Mother vows to keep slain 7-year-old’s story alive after Tanner Horner murder arrest

Follow the latest developments in the disappearance and death of Athena Strand

Community mourns loss

The grieving community of Wise County, Texas, gathered to pay tribute to slain seven-year-old Athena Strand at a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night, days after she was abducted and murdered.

In her first public remarks since the horror killing, Athena’s mother Maitlyn Presley Gandy vowed to keep her daughter’s story alive.

“I want everyone to know Athena for Athena, not what someone tried to make her out to be. Because she was the best little girl,” she said.

Not mentioned during the vigil was suspect Tanner Horner, the FedEx driver accused of kidnapping and killing Athena on 30 November.

After Athena was reported missing, hundreds of volunteers joined the search before the little girl’s body was found six miles away from her Paradise home on Friday.

Police said that Mr Horner confessed to snatching the little girl before killing her within an hour of her abduction. He faces charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.

No motive has been given for what police branded a “crime of opportunity”.

Key Points

• Grandfather says he ‘forgives’ killer
• Missing 7-year-old Texas girl's body found
• FedEx truck driver Tanner Lynn Horner arrested
• Mother says her ‘princess’ taken by ‘cruel monster'
• Athena Strand went missing on Wednesday

[6 December 2022 12:30 · Rachel Sharp]

Suspect boasted about dagger in social media post

Following his arrest, Tanner Lynn Horner’s social media posts have come to light.

In one post, seen by The Independent, the suspect boasts about a dagger he says he received as a present.

“Dagger my older brother gave me YEARS ago!,” he captioned an image of the gold blade in December 2014.

That same month, he posted a photo of himself in bed with the caption including a racial slur.

“Layin in bed just thinking f*** you lol n***a im the shit! Haters gonna hate ^-^” he wrote.

Tanner Lynn Horner boasted about getting this dagger in one online post (Instagram)

[6 December 2022 13:00 · Rachel Sharp]

FedEx releases statement about arrest of employee

FedEx released a statement expressing its thoughts for Athena Strand’s family following the arrest of one of its employees on charges of murder.

“Words cannot describe our shock and sorrow at the reports surrounding this tragic event,” the company said.

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family during this most difficult time, and we continue to cooperate fully with the investigating authorities.

“At this time, any further questions should be directed to law enforcement.”

[6 December 2022 13:30 · Rachel Sharp]

Grandfather says he ‘forgives’ suspect

The devastated grandfather of murdered seven-year-old Athena Strand has said that he forgives the “psycho” FedEx driver accused of abducting and killing her – but also wishes he could have “five minutes alone in a cell” with the suspect.

Mark Strand broke his silence in a heartbreaking Facebook post on Sunday after his granddaughter’s body was discovered around six miles from her home in Paradise, Texas, and 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner was arrested on charges of murder and kidnapping.

In the gut-wrenching social media post, Mr Strand spoke of his turmoil as he said he wants Mr Horner “to burn in hell for all eternity” but that his faith is pushing him to want to forgive.

“This flesh, this man that I am, is angry and I want 5 minutes alone in a cell with the psycho that took our Athena away from us, but there’s a soft gentle voice in the back of my head telling me I need to forgive him,” he wrote.

“This flesh man, wants that psycho to burn in hell for all eternity, yet that gentle voice continues to tell me, I need to forgive him. This flesh man hopes he remains blind and deaf to the message of salvation and never sets foot in the same heaven that I know in my heart my darling Athena resides in now and yet, that gentle voice persists. Why you ask?”

Mr Strand said that he would “probably kill” Mr Horner if he saw him in person now but that he must “choose love” for the sake of his grieving family.

[6 December 2022 14:00 · Rachel Sharp]

Motorcycle group raises thousands for family

A group of motorcyclists have raised thousands of dollars to help support the family of Athena Strand.

On Monday, hundreds of motorcyclists took part in a ride from Azel to Paradise, Texas, in memory of the slain seven-year-old.

Many wore pin – the little girl’s favourite colour.

Organiser Francis Chamberlin said the event raised $8,775 and that he had received an outpouring of support from people all across the country.

“She didn’t deserve this,” he told WFAA. “She was young. She still had her life ahead of her. And now she’s gone.”

[6 December 2022 14:39 · Andrea Blanco]

Athena’s mom thanks community’s support: ‘I see Athena in all of you’

The mother of Athena Strand, a seven-year-old girl abducted and killed by a FedEx driver out of her home in Paradise, Texas, has expressed gratitude for the unwavering outpouring of support from the community.

Maitlyn Presley Gandy addressed the hundreds of pictures of children and adults wearing pink in honour of Athena, saying she saw her little girl in all of them.

“I love seeing all of the pictures of everyone in pink from pinned on ribbons and hearts, tshirts, and full pink outfits (I see the scrubs ladies and gents!),” she wrote.

“I drove around a bit today, everywhere I looked, I saw shades of pink. I’ve had tears, it’s a bittersweet feeling seeing all of the support for Athena’s legacy.”

She continued: “I cannot thank everyone enough, but I hope y’all know, I see you and so does my Athena. I have to believe that or I will break. Athena sees us. And I see Athena in all of you.”

Athena Strand, seven (Facebook / Maitlyn Gandy)

[6 December 2022 15:26 · Andrea Blanco]

Tanner Horner’s neighbours react as he’s accused of murdering Athena Strand

Authorities announced on Friday that FedEx delivery driver Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, was taken into custody for the murder of Athena, who went missing from her home in Paradise, Texas, on 30 November. Wise County sheriff Lane Akin told reporters that Mr Horner confessed to killing Athena within an hour of her abduction.

Speaking to the Forth Worth Star-Telegram, neighbours of Mr Horner said that he lived with his grandmother and mother in the west Fort Worth neighbourhood and that he would leave for weeks at a time before returning home.

Read the full story:

[6 December 2022 16:07 · Andrea Blanco]

Candlelight vigil scheduled for Tuesday

The First Baptist Church Cottondale has arranged a Candlelight Memorial Service to allow the community to come together to celebrate the life of Athena Strand.

It will be held on Tuesday 6 December at 6pm at First Baptist Church of Cottondale in Paradise, Texas, on the front lawn. There will be a lighted angel set up for those that would like to bring flowers, a Facebook page reads.

Details here.

[6 December 2022 17:14 · Andrea Blanco]

Bikers raise thousands for Athena’s family

A group of motorcyclists have raised thousands of dollars to help support the family of Athena Strand.

On Monday, hundreds of motorcyclists took part in a ride from Azel to Paradise, Texas, in memory of the slain seven-year-old.

Many wore pin – the little girl’s favourite colour.

Organiser Francis Chamberlin said the event raised $8,775 and that he had received an outpouring of support from people all across the country.

“She didn’t deserve this,” he told WFAA. “She was young. She still had her life ahead of her. And now she’s gone.”

[6 December 2022 17:45 · Andrea Blanco]

ICYMI: Everything we know about the FedEx driver accused of abducting and murdering Athena

On Friday, authorities announced they had taken a FedEx delivery driver into custody who had been at Athena’s home at the time of her disappearance.

Wise County sheriff Lane Akin told reporters that the driver, 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner, had allegedly confessed to her abduction and murder.

Here’s everything we know about the suspect and the case:

[6 December 2022 18:34 · Andrea Blanco]

When did seven-year-old Athena Strand go missing?

Athena vanished without a trace from her home in Paradise on Wednesday (30 November).

The little girl had been dropped off from school at around 4.30pm and was last seen alive at about 5.40pm after she had a quarrel with her stepmother.

Around an hour later, her stepmother went to find the seven-year-old in her room to have dinner but she was nowhere to be found.

Athena was reported missing and, the next day, an Amber Alert was issued.

For the next two days, hundreds of law enforcement officers, family members and local volunteers combed the area desperately trying to find her as her family insisted she wouldn’t have gone off on her own.

Hopes of her safe return were then destroyed on Friday when police confirmed that her body had been discovered in a ditch around six miles from her home.