A FedEx driver has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and murdering a 7-year-old lady who went lacking earlier this week.
Based on KDFW, Athena Strand received off of her faculty on Wednesday at round 4:15 p.m. to go to her dwelling in Paradise, Texas. The younger lady’s stepmother quickly referred to as 911 at 6:40 p.m. to report her lacking when she observed that she wasn’t in her room on the time and looked for her for about an hour. CBS Information reported that she instructed investigators that the 2 argued whereas Athena’s father was not dwelling, an initially, investigators believed that Athena simply ran away. Nonetheless, that turned out to not be the case.
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A large search was launched throughout Clever County, and the Texas Division of Public Security then issued an AMBER Alert on Thursday. However on Friday, Clever County Sheriff Lane Akin instructed reporters that Athena was discovered useless almost 200 yards away from her home. He mentioned:
“It hurts our hearts to know that that little one died. A lot in order that she is on her manner now to the medical expert’s workplace and there’s a Texas ranger in entrance of her, and there’s a Texas ranger behind her. This group doesn’t like dropping our youngsters. And we are able to see it due to all of the individuals who got here out and helped us all through this ordeal.”
CNN reported that authorities obtained a tip that led them to find out {that a} contract driver for FedEx named Tanner Lynn Horner had taken the child from her driveway. Akin mentioned the 31-year-old delivered a bundle to the Strand household’s dwelling proper across the time that Athena disappeared, and authorities imagine she was killed inside an hour after her abduction. KDFW famous that police mentioned Tanner confessed to the homicide and has since been charged with capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping.
Following the information of Athena’s loss of life, FedEx launched a press release on Twitter providing its condolences to the household:
“Our ideas are with the household of Athena Strand throughout this most tough time. Phrases can not describe our shock and sorrow surrounding this tragic occasion. We proceed to cooperate absolutely with the investigating authorities.”
Her mom, Maitlyn Gandy, additionally launched a GoFundMe, saying:
“All donations are being allotted for justice for Athena. We’re enormously moved by the entire assist proven locally. Please proceed to wish for consolation for the households and first responders and that our aim ahead might be to aim to get justice for Athena and closure for her household.”
She later shared a message on Fb, calling Athena “harmless, lovely, variety, clever, and simply the brightest, happiest soul you may ever meet.” Maitlyn then mentioned her daughter was taken by a “sick, merciless monster for completely no purpose,” including:
“I don’t need her to be the lady often called the one murdered and discarded by a monster. I would like everybody to know, each single individual on this world, that that is my child and my child was taken from me. I would like everybody to know her face and her voice and simply how great of an individual she is.”
The mother thanked the “lots of if not hundreds of volunteers” and police who helped discover her this week:
“It takes a particular form of individual and whether or not a toddler is yours or not, working crime scenes involving kids are arduous. Thanks for locating my child. I do know everybody needs this may have ended in another way.”
Right now, Athena’s explanation for loss of life is at present beneath investigation. Our hearts exit to Athena’s family members after this unthinkable tragedy.
[Image via Texas Department Of Safety, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, ABC7 Chicago/YouTube]
