Athena Strand – update: Suspect Tanner Horner’s chilling Instagram posts emerge as motive for murder unclear

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 “5 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.

Athena vanished from her home on Wednesday and an Amber Alert was issued the next day. Her body was discovered on Friday.

Police said that Tanner Lynn Horner, a 31-year-old FedEx truck driver, had confessed to snatching the little girl before killing her within an hour of her abduction. He is facing charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.

No motive has been given and Mr Horner is not believed to have any connection to the little girl.

Following his arrest, the aspiring musician’s chilling song lyrics have emerged: “Sometimes I hear her cries. Silence is the dirtiest trick in life. If im so empty then why do I feel alive.”

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

Everything we know about FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand

03:10 , Andrea Blanco

According to Wise County Jail records, 31-year-old Tanner Horner was booked at 2am on Friday on one count of capital murder of a person under 10 and aggravated kidnapping.

His bond was set at $1.5m.

Mr Horner has worked as an Uber driver, according to reports, and posted on social media about being a musician.

Here’s everything we know about the case:

Everything we know about FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand

ICYMI: A timeline of Athena’s Strand disappearance and murder investigation

01:40 , Andrea Blanco

Athena was last seen alive at her home on the 200 Block of County Rd 3573 in Paradise, at about 5.40pm on Wednesday.

Her stepmother reported her missing around an hour later, sparking a massive search involving multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies who used canine units and helicopters with thermal imaging.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin announced at a late night press conference on Friday that Athena’s body had been found and a FedEx driver Tanner Horner had been arrested.

The suspect allegedly confessed to abducting Athena and murdering her about an hour later before disposing of her body, Mr Akin told reporters.

Tanner Horner’s neighbours ‘shocked’ by accusations

00:07 , Io Dodds

Tanner Lynn Horner’s neighbours have shared their shock and horror at the news that he is suspected of killing Athena Strand.

“I find it just shocking it was him,” said one woman who asked not to be named in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The neighbours said that Mr Horner 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.

My colleague Andrea Blanco has the full story here.

Mother of Athena Strand says her ‘princess’ was taken by a ‘cruel monster’

00:05 , Andrea Blanco

The heartbroken mother of Texas schoolgirl Athena Strand has described the suspect who allegedly confessed to her murder as a “sick, cruel monster”.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Athena’s mother Maitlyn Gandy wrote that she was struggling to describe “the pain and absolute anger” that she felt towards the alleged killer.

“My princess was taken from me from a sick, cruel monster for absolutely no reason,” she wrote along with a home video taken of Athena aged three.

“Athena is innocent, beautiful, kind, intelligent, and just the brightest, happiest soul you could ever meet. I don’t want her to be the girl known as the one murdered and discarded by a monster.

“I want everyone to know, every single person in this world, that this is my baby and my baby was taken from me.”

The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has the story:

Mother of Athena Strand says her ‘princess’ was taken by a ‘cruel monster’

Sheriff describes investigation as “one of the toughest”

Monday 5 December 2022 22:40 , Andrea Blanco

In a late night press conference on Friday, Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin announced that authorities had taken a FedEx contract driver into custody.

Investigators had determined that Tanner Horner, 31, had made a drop-off near the family home around the time Athena went missing.

Mr Akin said the driver had allegedly confessed to taking Athena and shown them where her body could be found, in a ditch around six miles out of Paradise.

They believed she had died within an hour of her abduction, but did not provide further details on how she was killed.

“It’s one of the toughest investigations I have been involved in because it’s a child,” Mr Akin said at the press conference, according to Fox4.

“Any time there’s a child that dies it just hits you in your heart.”

Chilling song lyrics written by suspect accused of Athena’s murder

Monday 5 December 2022 21:14 , Andrea Blanco

Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, is accused of snatching little Athena from her home in Paradise, Texas, before killing her and dumping her body in a ditch about six miles away. Police said that he confessed to the heinous crime and is being held on charges of capital murder and kidnapping.

Following his arrest, the aspiring musician’s dark song lyrics and disturbing social media posts have emerged.

In one Instagram post from December 2014, he wrote: “Sometimes I hear her cries. Silence is the dirtiest trick in life. If im so empty then why do I feel alive.”

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Chilling song lyrics penned by FedEx driver accused of Athena Strand’s murder

Everything we know about Tanner Horner, the FedEx driver accused of abducting and murdering Athena

Monday 5 December 2022 20:09 , Andrea Blanco

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:

Everything we know about FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand

Grieving mother shares heartbreaking video of murdered 7-year-old’s sister sobbing

Monday 5 December 2022 19:05 , Andrea Blanco

Athena’s mother Maitlyn Presley Gandy posted the video to Facebook on Monday, three days after her child was found dead in Paradise, Texas. The little girl was reported missing on Wednesday (30 November) and suspect Tanner Lynn Horner is now charged with her abduction and murder.

Ms Gandy explained that the video of her other daughter sobbing uncontrollably for her “sissy” was taken days before Athena went missing, as the seven-year-old was visiting her father in Texas. At the time, Ms Gandy said she assured the unconsolable girl that her sister would be back with them in Oklahoma soon.

“That video of [redacted] begging for her sissy was Sunday 11/27 when we thought sissy would only be gone a few days. I kept telling her, ‘it’s okay, we will see sissy soon,’ not knowing how twisted our lives would become,” Ms Gandy wrote.

The Independent has the story:

Athena Strand’s mother shares heartbreaking video of 7-year-old’s sister sobbing

Athena Strand’s grandfather says he forgives ‘psycho’ FedEx driver accused of abducting and murdering her

Monday 5 December 2022 18:23 , Andrea Blanco

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.

“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.

Read the full story:

Athena Strand’s grandfather says he forgives ‘psycho’ FedEx driver accused of murder

Community wears pink in support of Athena

Monday 5 December 2022 16:51 , Andrea Blanco

Area school districts will wear pink in support of Athena Strand, her family and the local community.

Athena’s mother’s Facebook page has also been flooded with comments and pictures of mothers and kids across Texas and the country wearing pink in tribute of the seven-year-old girl killed on Wednesday.

“I put my little girl in pink today for Athena. She said “my favorite color is pink too, we could have been friends” I’m praying so hard for you. And I’m so so sorry,” a mother wrote.

Who is the FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand?

Monday 5 December 2022 15:43 , Andrea Blanco

Athena disappeared from her home in Paradise, north Texas, on Wednesday, 30 November.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers, family and volunteers spent two days canvassing homes and searching rugged terrain in the area for the missing first grader.

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.

The Independent’s Bevan Hurley has the story:

Everything we know about FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand

Grieving mother shares heartbreaking post

Monday 5 December 2022 15:09 , Andrea Blanco

In the aftermath of Athena’s death, her mother, Maitlyn Presley Gandy, has shared her gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community and law enforcement.

In a heartbreaking post on Monday, Ms Presley shared a video of her youngest daughter crying for her “sissy’s” returns, before it was revealed that Athena had been killed.

“That video of [redacted] begging for her sissy was Sunday 11/27 when we thought sissy would only be gone a few days,” Ms Gandy wrote. “I kept telling her, ‘it’s okay, we will see sissy soon,’ not knowing how twisted our lives would become.”

It continued: “I took it because she does this anytime she thinks sissy is going somewhere without her. She cried for thirty minutes straight in the car until she cried herself to sleep. This monster has now extended those feelings for my youngest daughter indefinitely.”

Ms Gandy also said that Athena’s cousins had been informed that she would never be coming home again.

Chilling song lyrics penned by FedEx driver accused of Athena Strand’s murder

Monday 5 December 2022 14:30 , Rachel Sharp

Chilling song lyrics penned by the FedEx driver and aspiring musician accused of murdering seven-year-old Athena Strand have come to light, including the foreboding line “sometimes I hear her cries”.

Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, is accused of snatching little Athena from her home in Paradise, Texas, before killing her and dumping her body in a ditch about six miles away. Police said that he confessed to the heinous crime and is being held on charges of capital murder and kidnapping.

Following his arrest, the aspiring musician’s dark song lyrics and disturbing social media posts have emerged.

In one Instagram post from December 2014, he wrote: “Sometimes I hear her cries. Silence is the dirtiest trick in life. If im so empty then why do I feel alive.”

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Chilling song lyrics penned by FedEx driver accused of Athena Strand’s murder

Suspect boasted about dagger in social media post

Monday 5 December 2022 14:11 , Rachel Sharp

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.

Candlelight vigil scheduled for Tuesday

Monday 5 December 2022 13:45 , Rachel Sharp

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.

Everything we know about FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand

Monday 5 December 2022 13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A FedEx contract driver has allegedly confessed to the abduction and murder of missing 7-year-old Athena Strand, authorities in Texas say.

Here is everything we know so far about Tanner Lynn Horner.

Everything we know about FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand

Athena Strand’s grandfather says he forgives ‘psycho’ FedEx driver

Monday 5 December 2022 12:42 , Rachel Sharp

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 “5 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.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Athena Strand’s grandfather says he forgives ‘psycho’ FedEx driver accused of murder

Texas school districts to wear pink for Athena

Monday 5 December 2022 12:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Mother says her ‘princess’ was taken by a ‘cruel monster’

Monday 5 December 2022 11:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The heartbroken mother of Texas schoolgirl Athena Strand has described the suspect who allegedly confessed to her murder as a “sick, cruel monster” in a heartbreaking Facebook post.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Mother of Athena Strand says her ‘princess’ was taken by a ‘cruel monster’

Suspect taken into custody on Friday

Monday 5 December 2022 09:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Wise County sheriff announced on Friday that a FedEx driver had been taken into custody.

The driver, identified by police as 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner is being held at the Wise County Jail on charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.

FedEx driver arrested for murder and kidnap of missing 7-year-old Athena Strand

Heartbroken community mourns loss

Monday 5 December 2022 07:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The First Baptist Church of Cottondale was a gathering place for volunteers and Athena’s family while the search for her was carried out this week. A vigil will be held at the church on Tuesday.

Pastor Charles Pugh spoke with CBS News.

“Your heart goes out to the parents. It’s just so random it seems like, that it happened that way,” he said.

When the news broke that Athena had been found dead, Pugh was with her parents.

“He’s just kind of numb I think,” said Pugh of her dad’s reaction. “Frustration, but he had a good spirit.”

At Friday night’s press conference, Sheriff Lane Akin was visibly emotional.

“It hurts our hearts to know that child died,” he said, “This community does not like losing our children and we can see it because of all the people who came out and helped us throughout this ordeal.”

Devastating news announced on Friday evening

Monday 5 December 2022 05:15 , Oliver O'Connell

After two days of searching, Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin delivered the devastating news that Athena’s body had been found at a Friday evening news conference.

FedEx driver arrested for murder and kidnap of missing 7-year-old Athena Strand

What happened on the day Athena disappeared

Monday 5 December 2022 03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Wise County Sheriff’s Office says that seven-year-old Athena Strand went to school and returned to her home in Paradise, Texas at approximately 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Her father had left his wife and daughter at home to go hunting, and Athena and her stepmother allegedly got into an argument after she arrived home from school.

“We know that there was a little bit of an argument between her and her step-mom last night but it isn’t anything unusual,” Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said. “There was that argument, then step-mom went to fix dinner, came back to get Athena, and Athena wasn’t in her room.”

At approximately 6.40pm Athena’s stepmother called 911 when she realised that the little girl was not in her bedroom nor anywhere else in the house after spending an hour looking for her.

Police issued an AMBER Alert and the search for Athena began. Some 200 volunteers from the local community joined law enforcement officers in the search overnight, through Thursday, and into Friday.

Athena’s body was found approximately 11 miles away from her home.

“It hurts our hearts to know that child died,” Sheriff Akin said during a press conference on Friday evening. “It’s one of the toughest investigations that I’ve been involved in because it’s a child. And anytime there’s a child that dies, it just hits you in your heart.”

Suspect expected in court on Monday

Monday 5 December 2022 01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Tanner Horner is expected in court on Monday for a detention hearing.

He was booked into Wise County Jail at 2am on Friday on counts of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a person under the age of 10.

His bond is set at $1.5m.

Everything we know about Tanner Horner

Monday 5 December 2022 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

According to Wise County Jail records, Tanner Horner was booked at 2am on Friday on one count of capital murder of a person under 10 and aggravated kidnapping. His bond was set at $1.5m.

Everything we know about FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand

Video shows investigators surrounding FedEx truck

Sunday 4 December 2022 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Mother says her ‘princess’ was taken by a ‘cruel monster’

Sunday 4 December 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The heartbroken mother of Texas schoolgirl Athena Strand has described the suspect who allegedly confessed to her murder as a “sick, cruel monster” in a heartbreaking Facebook post.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Mother of Athena Strand says her ‘princess’ was taken by a ‘cruel monster’

Local school districts to wear pink in show of support

Sunday 4 December 2022 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Area school districts will wear pink in support of Athena Strand, her family and the local community.

Recap: FedEx driver arrested for murder of Athena Strand, 7, after delivering package to her home

Sunday 4 December 2022 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Athena was likely abducted from her driveway, about 200 yards away from the house, around 6pm on Wednesday evening.

Sravasti Dasgupta reports.

FedEx driver arrested for murder and kidnap of missing 7-year-old Athena Strand

Sunday 4 December 2022 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell