Athena Strand's mother claims, FedEx courier accused of killing 7-year-old daughter, delivered Christmas present before kidnapping her

The mother of 7-year-old Athena Strand went forward on Thursday, saying that the FedEx driver accused of abducting and killing Athena had given her daughter Barbie dolls for Christmas.

Athena Strand's mother Maitlyn Gandy called for stricter checks of the background. On delivery drivers. The Barbie dolls' box, emblazoned with the words "You can be anything," stood next to her on easel.

On November 30, Athena disappeared from her driveway in Wise County, Texas. According to Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin, her body was discovered late on Friday following a search of the whole county. Akin said on Friday that although the investigation into her death is ongoing, investigators believe she was murdered within an hour of her purported kidnapping.


Akin said the authorities had identified a 31-year-old FedEx contract driver named Tanner Lynn Horner as the culprit in this case. Horner is being held in the Wise County Prison on suspicion of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder, as stated on the prison's official website.

The driver was worried Athena would land him in trouble

According to two arrest warrants acquired by the CNN station KTVT, Horner told police that he inadvertently hit Athena while reversing his delivery truck. Although she was not gravely hurt, he panicked and put her in the van before murdering her.

According to the warrants, Horner was tracked down by his company, a FedEx subcontractor, when police found Athena went missing around the time a FedEx package was dispatched to the house. Warrant documents state that video from inside the car shows a child communicating with the driver.

FAQs:

1. How old is Tanner Lynn Horner?
   He is 31 years old.
2. Did the FedEx driver hit Athena?
   While Athena walked away unscathed, Horner revealed that he accidentally ran into her while reversing his delivery vehicle.