Fedex Driver Charged With Abduction And Murder In Texas

On Wednesday, locals in Texas banded together to look for a missing 7-year-old child. A FedEx driver was suspected of kidnapping and killing the toddler after her body was discovered on Friday. The neighborhood is a complete mess.

On Wednesday, Athena Strand vanished from her Paradise home. Numerous locals were eager to bring her home and were actively looking for her. FedEx delivery man Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, confessed to killing the girl while delivering a box to the residence.

Sheriff Lane Akin of Wise County indicated that the community and police are upset that the investigation did not result in the way they had intended. Authorities think the boy was murdered within an hour of the kidnapping, but they are still unsure of the motive. Horner was accused with both capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. A $1.5 million bail bond has been set up for the driver’s detention.

Horner had no ties to the family, according to the police, and the crime seemed random. Around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the girl arrived home from school. The two had a fight before Athena was taken from the driveway, according to her stepmother’s police report. At 6:40 p.m., after several hours of looking and no luck, she filed an official missing kid report. At the time of the kidnapping, her father was out on a hunting trip. 

After receiving a tip on Horner during the search, Athena’s body was discovered about 10 miles from her house. Along with the Wise County Sheriff’s officers, Texas Rangers, and FBI agents, hundreds of volunteers participated in the operation.  “It’s one of the toughest investigations that I’ve been involved in,” according to Akin.

In addition to being a musician and an Azle High School alum, Horner has worked as an Uber and FedEx driver. The suspect does not appear to have any prior criminal history. According to property records, the suspect resides in the Fort Worth region.