CRIME Texas: Missing 7-year-old girl, found dead in Wise County....

mzkitty

mzkitty

I give up.
Horrible. I wouldn't want to be the step mom....

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Athena Strand, missing 7-year-old girl, found dead in Wise County​

December 2, 2022 / 10:14 PM

WISE COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) — A two-day search in rural Wise County amid cold temperatures led to the discovery of Athena Strand's body. The 7-year-old was first reported missing from her father's home on Nov. 30.

At about 8:00 p.m., her body was found about 6 miles away from her home.

Police set up a perimeter with crime scene tape around a car.

So far, they've not released any details about what may have happened to her. Earlier this week, Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said they believe Athena likely ran away but did not rule out foul play. "It could be any number of things and we're looking at all those possibilities."

Officials were also concerned about the weather conditions. Hypothermia - a medical emergency in which the body's temperature drops below 95ºF - can occur at external temperatures as high as 40ºF.


Athena was last seen at her father's home on County Road 3573 in Paradise, Texas, wearing a gray long sleeve shirt with white flowers, blue jeans with white flowers on the pockets, and brown boots.

The Wise County Sheriff's Office said they received a call from her stepmother reporting her missing after the two had an argument while her father was not home. Police said she spent "about an hour" looking for her before contacting the sheriff's office.

An Amber Alert was issued for Athena on Thursday and several hundred volunteers came out to Wise County to aid in the search.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

www.cbsnews.com

Athena Strand, missing 7-year-old girl, found dead in Wise County

Athena Strand, the missing 7-year-old girl from Wise County, has been found dead in rural Wise County.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
 
mzkitty

mzkitty

I give up.
Updated 10:33PM

WISE COUNTY, Texas - The search for a missing Wise County little girl has come to a terrible end.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin confirmed that 7-year-old Athena Strand’s body was found Friday afternoon in Boyd, Texas. It's about six miles from the Cottondale Fire Department.

Akin says a tip led them to a FedEx driver, who is believed to have abducted Athena from her home Wednesday night. The driver confessed to kidnapping her. Athena likely died an hour after her disappearance, the sheriff said.

Authorities say the driver, 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner of Lake Worth, was an independent contractor. He is being held in the Wise County Jail and is charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. He is being held on a $1.5 million bond.

Athena’s biological mother showed up to Friday’s news conference. She didn’t want to talk on camera but said she is desperate to have her daughter home.

FOX 4's Macy Jenkins was speaking to neighbors Friday afternoon off County Road 4599 when they were approached by law enforcement and told to move back immediately, but her body was not found there.

Athena got off of her school bus on Wednesday at 4:15 p.m.

Athena’s stepmother called 911 at 6:40 p.m. to report her missing from her home in Paradise. She told investigators there was an argument and later the girl was not in her room. The sheriff says she waited an hour to tell authorities because she went looking for the girl first.

"The mother and daughter had a little bit of an argument, which is not unusual for a 7-year-old and a stepmother," said Akin. "Athena got upset and she walked away, as she has done in the past, but they expected she would come back."

A large group of law enforcement officers, more than 300 volunteers, dog teams, helicopters and thermal imaging technology participated in the search.

"We were able to cover vast amounts of area and talk to tons of people more quickly than we would have without them," said Wise County Chief Deputy Craig Johnson.

Akin says the girl's stepmother was the only adult home at the time of her disappearance. The father was on his way to South Texas for a deer hunting trip when he was told what happened.

The Wise County Sheriff's Office says both of the girl’s parents and the stepmother have cooperated throughout the process. Akin said he did not recall any previous calls to the home.

Athena’s mother, Maitlyn Gandy, lives in southern Oklahoma. She told FOX 4 that she does have sole custody of her daughter but allowed her to spend the fall semester in Texas with her father and stepmother.

"We talked to both sides: the mother and the father and the stepmother. They have been very cooperative," Akin said.

Athena's mother drove down from Oklahoma and was seen talking to investigators at the search site.

Now, the focus of the case has shifted to an investigation with some targeted searching as leads develop.

Sheriff Akin says that means his office will have more resources.

"The FBI is helping us with digital resources and investigative support," he said.

Akin says the girl's stepmother was the only adult home at the time of her disappearance. The father was on his way to South Texas for a deer hunting trip when he was told what happened.

The Wise County Sheriff's Office says both of the girl’s parents and the stepmother have cooperated throughout the process. Akin said he did not recall any previous calls to the home.

Athena’s mother, Maitlyn Gandy, lives in southern Oklahoma. She told FOX 4 that she does have sole custody of her daughter but allowed her to spend the fall semester in Texas with her father and stepmother.

"We talked to both sides: the mother and the father and the stepmother. They have been very cooperative," Akin said.

Athena's mother drove down from Oklahoma and was seen talking to investigators at the search site.

Athena's cause of death has not been determined. Her body is being taken to the medical examiner's office.

www.fox4news.com

Athena Strand found dead after being kidnapped by delivery driver: Wise County sheriff

The sheriff says a tip led them to a FedEx driver, who is believed to have abducted Athena from her home Wednesday night. The driver confessed to kidnapping her. Athena likely died an hour after her disappearance, the sheriff said.
www.fox4news.com www.fox4news.com
 

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thompson

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
Heavy has a different pic of the perp:

dFFquvx.jpg

Tanner Lynn Horner

I'm not going to post all of the pics (quite a few), but here's the main article..

heavy.com

Tanner Horner, Athena Strand Suspect: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Tanner Horner is the Fed-ex driver accused of abducting and murdering Athena Strand. His full name is Tanner Lynn Horner.
heavy.com heavy.com

Tanner Horner, Athena Strand Suspect: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Tanner Lynn Horner is the FedEx driver accused of abducting and murdering 7-year-old Athena Strand in Texas.

Authorities released the suspect’s name in a December 2, 2022, news conference.

“We’re say it didn’t end the way we hoped it would end,” Wise County, Texas, Sheriff Lane Akin said. His full name is Tanner Lynn Horner. The sheriff says that Tanner Horner confessed.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The Sheriff Confirmed That Athena’s Body Was Discovered

Wise County, Texas, Sheriff Lane Akin called the investigation a “monumental task.” Some of the answers discovered “were not some of the answers we would have hoped” to have gotten, Akin said.

“Her body was recovered about two hours ago, maybe three. Six miles in that direction. It hurts our hearts to know that child died,” Akin said.

The child’s body was on the way to the medical examiner’s office. “There’s a Texas Ranger in front of her, and there’s a Texas Ranger behind her,” said Akin. “This community does not like losing our children.”

2. Athena’s Mom Wrote, ‘Please Help Me Find My Daughter’

Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother wrote on Facebook, “Please help me find my daughter, Athena Presley Monroe Strand. She has been missing since 11/30/2022 @ 05:30p in the area of Paradise, Texas!”

3. Horner, Who Was Accused of Being a ‘Rapist’ in a 2019 Facebook Post, Made a Delivery Near the Girl’s House

The Fed-Ex driver made a delivery near the house when 7 year old Athena went missing.

“The driver abducted Athena,” the sheriff said.

“We think Athena died within an hour or so after the departure from her home.” She was abducted from her own driveway.

Horner was a contract driver, authorities said.

In 2019, a woman wrote on Facebook, “friendly reminder that Tanner Horner is a rapist??.” In the comment thread, another woman said he drove for Uber. “a transphobic rapist in a pop punk band, what a shocker,” added another.

4. Horner, Who Is From Texas, Is Being Held on $1.5 Million Bond

Horner is from Lake Worth, Texas. He is 31 years old. Online records show he has also lived in Fort Worth and Benbrook, Texas.

Horner is being held in the Wise County Jail, the sheriff said.

He is being held on $1.5 million bond, according to the sheriff.

5. Horner Will Be Charged With Capital Murder

The sheriff said Athena’s body was found along a county road.

He said Horner will be charged with capital murder. He did not know Athena’s family, the sheriff said.
 
mzkitty

mzkitty

I give up.
thompson said:
Heavy has a different pic of the perp:

dFFquvx.jpg

Tanner Lynn Horner

I'm not going to post all of the pics (quite a few), but here's the main article..

heavy.com

Tanner Horner, Athena Strand Suspect: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Tanner Horner is the Fed-ex driver accused of abducting and murdering Athena Strand. His full name is Tanner Lynn Horner.
heavy.com heavy.com

Tanner Horner, Athena Strand Suspect: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Tanner Lynn Horner is the FedEx driver accused of abducting and murdering 7-year-old Athena Strand in Texas.

Authorities released the suspect’s name in a December 2, 2022, news conference.

“We’re say it didn’t end the way we hoped it would end,” Wise County, Texas, Sheriff Lane Akin said. His full name is Tanner Lynn Horner. The sheriff says that Tanner Horner confessed.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The Sheriff Confirmed That Athena’s Body Was Discovered

Wise County, Texas, Sheriff Lane Akin called the investigation a “monumental task.” Some of the answers discovered “were not some of the answers we would have hoped” to have gotten, Akin said.

“Her body was recovered about two hours ago, maybe three. Six miles in that direction. It hurts our hearts to know that child died,” Akin said.

The child’s body was on the way to the medical examiner’s office. “There’s a Texas Ranger in front of her, and there’s a Texas Ranger behind her,” said Akin. “This community does not like losing our children.”

2. Athena’s Mom Wrote, ‘Please Help Me Find My Daughter’

Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother wrote on Facebook, “Please help me find my daughter, Athena Presley Monroe Strand. She has been missing since 11/30/2022 @ 05:30p in the area of Paradise, Texas!”

3. Horner, Who Was Accused of Being a ‘Rapist’ in a 2019 Facebook Post, Made a Delivery Near the Girl’s House

The Fed-Ex driver made a delivery near the house when 7 year old Athena went missing.

“The driver abducted Athena,” the sheriff said.

“We think Athena died within an hour or so after the departure from her home.” She was abducted from her own driveway.

Horner was a contract driver, authorities said.

In 2019, a woman wrote on Facebook, “friendly reminder that Tanner Horner is a rapist??.” In the comment thread, another woman said he drove for Uber. “a transphobic rapist in a pop punk band, what a shocker,” added another.

4. Horner, Who Is From Texas, Is Being Held on $1.5 Million Bond

Horner is from Lake Worth, Texas. He is 31 years old. Online records show he has also lived in Fort Worth and Benbrook, Texas.

Horner is being held in the Wise County Jail, the sheriff said.

He is being held on $1.5 million bond, according to the sheriff.

5. Horner Will Be Charged With Capital Murder

The sheriff said Athena’s body was found along a county road.

He said Horner will be charged with capital murder. He did not know Athena’s family, the sheriff said.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have removed the erroneous one.
 
Kewpie

Kewpie

Senior Member
I was just reading about this, and it makes me so physically ill. I’m in a lot of true crime groups, and immediately, they were all over the dad and step mom. And then the police treated it (initially) as just a runaway. How GD sad is it, that a contract (meaning like seasonal or temporary) FedEx worker confessed? No connection to the family, he just saw an opportunity to live out a sick fantasy and took it. Hold your babies close.
 
Melodi

Melodi

Disaster Cat
I just wanted to mention this is why jumping to conclusions is not a good idea; obviously, the stepmother had nothing to do with this and is not a suspect. She let the little girl go outside to cool off, my Mother ran a daycare center for 30 years, and the older children were allowed to play or even take a "time out" outside.

This is a horrific crime, much worse than what I first "suspected," which was the child was mad, took off from her yard, and died from the cold a few hours later.
 
coalcracker

coalcracker

Veteran Member
SuElPo said:
God help all the children out there.
Susan
Click to expand...
And help parents, dear Lord, to not fail to do everything possible to protect their children and step children from the monsters that we know are out there walking among us.

The step mom must’ve had something more important to do, like watch tv or post on Facebook. There is NO WAY you allow that pretty little 7 year old to run away unattended. Sorry, no excuse possible.
 
Raggedyman

Raggedyman

Res ipsa loquitur
mzkitty said:
Athena’s stepmother called 911 at 6:40 p.m. to report her missing from her home in Paradise
Click to expand...
as heart wrenching as this crime is I found great comfort in the fact that as soon as I read this it was replaced instantaneously with this: but now presently AT HOME IN Paradise

as I've done here with similar untimely departures I find its helpful to recall these words:

The righteous perish, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come Isaiah 57:1
 
thompson

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
coalcracker said:
The step mom must’ve had something more important to do, like watch tv or post on Facebook. There is NO WAY you allow that pretty little 7 year old to run away unattended. Sorry, no excuse possible.
Click to expand...

One of the articles said the stepmother went to fix supper.
 
Raggedyman

Raggedyman

Res ipsa loquitur
lili said:
She is especially beautiful. She deserved to enjoy her life, and the monster deserves to burn in hell.
Click to expand...
indeed . . . not to mention that he IT should be sent there ASAP and in the most painfully and PUBLICLY AVAILABLE fashion we can devise.

I can't be the only one here that believes if we'd simply return to REAL JUSTICE delivered in a TIMELY fashion at LEVELS APPROPRIATE TO THE CRIME we'd see a significant reduction in the EVIL we're tolerating. NOT ALL of it mind you - but a very noticeable portion of it
 
Raggedyman

Raggedyman

Res ipsa loquitur
Dennis Olson said:
Normally I’d ding you for Scripture quoting on a secular thread, but this particular Scripture is so true.
Click to expand...
I appreciate being spared the wrath. quite actually boss - despite the fact that I'm well aware of that particular rule I've quoted it a few times here in similar instances thinking that you'd realize exactly what you've expressed above.

I believe others here would agree as well. now I'll slink away and wait quietly for the shoe to drop . . . :eek:
 
D

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
Humans who prey on other humans are still predators, with a predator mindset. They never stop being predators, and all it takes is an instant of prey distraction and inattention to provoke a strike.

Same thing goes for you, not just pretty little 7YO girls.

www.goodreads.com

Inside the Criminal Mind

In 1984, this groundbreaking book presented a chilling …
www.goodreads.com www.goodreads.com

You NEED to read this book. The human jungle is full of lions and tigers and bears oh my.
 
coalcracker

coalcracker

Veteran Member
thompson said:
One of the articles said the stepmother went to fix supper.
Click to expand...
Another had this:

mzkitty said:
"The mother and daughter had a little bit of an argument, which is not unusual for a 7-year-old and a stepmother," said Akin. "Athena got upset and she walked away, as she has done in the past, but they expected she would come back."
Click to expand...
Thus, my harsh words about her not protecting the child from the monsters that we know are out there.
 
Walrus Whisperer

Walrus Whisperer

Hope in chains...
Raggedyman said:
indeed . . . not to mention that he IT should be sent there ASAP and in the most painfully and PUBLICLY AVAILABLE fashion we can devise.

I can't be the only one here that believes if we'd simply return to REAL JUSTICE delivered in a TIMELY fashion at LEVELS APPROPRIATE TO THE CRIME we'd see a significant reduction in the EVIL we're tolerating. NOT ALL of it mind you - but a very noticeable portion of it
Click to expand...
Public hanging comes to mind.
 
thompson

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
coalcracker said:
Another had this:


Thus, my harsh words about her not protecting the child.
Click to expand...

She walked away from the argument and went outside is what I got from that. If that's so, it sounds to me like the little girl had developed some great coping skills and was playing outside.

I'm not sure if I could find it again and don't have time to look right now, but I read an article yesterday that said she had gone missing from the front yard or driveway.
 
mzkitty

mzkitty

I give up.
thompson said:
She walked away from the argument and went outside is what I got from that. If that's so, it sounds to me like the little girl had developed some great coping skills and was playing outside.

I'm not sure if I could find it again and don't have time to look right now, but I read an article yesterday that said she had gone missing from the front yard or driveway.
Click to expand...

Yes, one of the articles said he snatched her from her own driveway.

:(
 
coalcracker

coalcracker

Veteran Member
Griz3752 said:
Generally no but we slow down and look hard at things like that; you never know. . . .
Click to expand...
Yes, indeed. I find that I can never turn my suspicions off. I’m like a German Shepherd with its ears up. I notice everything. Paranoid? You bet.

I’ve raised two daughters, and now I often watch my beautiful 1-yr-old granddaughter. I never assume anything is safe. It’s my job to keep them safe.

Apologies for belaboring the point, but too many people live as if there is no evil in this world.
 
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