Athena Strand – update: Grandfather ‘forgives’ killer of missing child as suspect’s song lyrics emerge

Community wears pink in support of Athena

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.

Andrea Blanco5 December 2022 16:51

Who is the FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand?

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:

Andrea Blanco5 December 2022 15:43

Grieving mother shares heartbreaking post

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.

Andrea Blanco5 December 2022 15:09

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

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:

Rachel Sharp5 December 2022 14:30

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.

Rachel Sharp5 December 2022 14:11

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.

Rachel Sharp5 December 2022 13:45

Everything we know about FedEx driver accused of murdering Athena Strand

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.

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 13:15

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

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:

Rachel Sharp5 December 2022 12:42

Texas school districts to wear pink for Athena

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 12:15

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

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.

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 11:15