A startling new detail has emerged in the murder of 7-year-old Texas girl Athena Strand. It has now been revealed that Tanner Horner, 30, the FedEx contract driver who struck Strand with her truck, strangled the girl, according to Fox 4.
Horner has claimed that he accidentally hit Strand with his truck while delivering what turned out to be a Christmas present.
Despite being hit by the van, Horner says that Strand was fine, even able to speak after the incident and tell him his name.
However, the driver apparently panicked and pushed Strand into his vehicle.
THE ALLEGED KILLER OF ATHENA STRAND WAS GIVING A CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO THE 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL: MOM
After attempting to snap the girl’s neck, Horner strangled Strand out of concern that she would tell her father about the situation, according to an affidavit obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
7-year-old Athena Strand was allegedly kidnapped and killed by 30-year-old FedEx delivery driver Tanner Lynn Horner.
(Wise County Sheriff’s Office)
The area where Horner dumped Strand’s body, where it was discovered on December 2 after she was missing for several days, is now decorated with pink balloons.
Pink was Athena’s favorite color.
TEXAS GIRL ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY FEDEX DRIVER REMEMBERED BY MOTHER IN EMOTIONAL MESSAGE: ‘KEEP HER STORY ALIVE’
Authorities say the body of 7-year-old Athena Strand was found on Friday, December 2, 2022.
(Wise County Sheriff’s Office)
“I just want everyone to know that she was amazing and that she would really love each one of you because she loves every human she’s ever met and every animal she’s ever met,” said Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother. during a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night.
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“I can’t make my mind quiet and I have to share this. A friend asked me the other day if I believe that God speaks to people. I know he does, since he is speaking to me now. This flesh, this man that I am, is angry and I want 5 minutes alone in a cell with the psycho that took Athena from us, but there’s a soft, gentle voice in the back of my head telling me I need to forgive him,” Athena’s grandfather said. , Mark Stand, wrote in a tribute post on Saturday.
The official motive for the crime has not yet been determined.
