Athena Strand updates: Texas town pays tribute after abduction and murder arrest of FedEx driver Turner Horner

Wise County sheriff Lane Akin told reporters that 31-year-old driver Tanner Lynn Horner confessed to being kidnapped and killed.

Here’s everything we know about the suspect and the case:

A group of motorcyclists has raised thousands of dollars to support Athena Strand’s family.

On Monday, hundreds of motorcyclists joined a trip from Azel to Paradise, Texas, in memory of the murdered seven-year-old.

Many wore pins, which was the little girl’s favorite color.

Organizer Francis Chamberlin said the event raised $8,775 and received a lot of support from people from all over the country.

“He didn’t deserve this,” he told the WFAA. “He was young. He still had his life ahead of him. And now he’s gone.

First Baptist Church Cottondale held a Candlelight Memorial to allow the community to come together to celebrate the life of Athena Strand.

It will be held on Tuesday, December 6 at 6 PM at the First Baptist Church of Cottondale in Paradise, Texas, in the front yard. A luminous angel will be set up for those who want to bring flowers, reads a Facebook page.

Authorities announced Friday that 31-year-old FedEx delivery driver Tanner Lynn Horner has been detained in connection with the murder of Athena, who went missing on November 30 at her Paradise, Texas home. Wise County sheriff Lane Akin told reporters that Mr. Horner confessed to killing Athena within an hour of abducting him.

talk to Forth Worth Star TelegramMr Horner’s neighbors said he lived with his grandmother and mother in the western Fort Worth neighborhood and would leave for weeks before returning home.

The mother of seven-year-old Athena Strand, who was abducted and killed by a FedEx driver outside her home in Paradise, Texas, expressed her gratitude for the unwavering support from the community.

Maitlyn Presley Gandy addressed hundreds of photos of children and adults wearing pink in honor of Athena, saying she saw her little girl in all of them.

“I love seeing all the pictures of everyone with pink on ribbons and hearts, t-shirts and full pink outfits (I see gowns ladies and gentlemen!),” she wrote.

“I wandered around a bit today, and everywhere I looked I saw shades of pink. I’ve been in tears, it’s a bittersweet feeling to see all the support for Athena’s legacy.”

He continued: “I can’t thank everyone enough but I hope you all know, I see you and so does my Athena. I have to believe this or I will break. Athena sees us. And I see Athena in all of you.”

A group of motorcyclists has raised thousands of dollars to support Athena Strand’s family.

On Monday, hundreds of motorcyclists joined a trip from Azel to Paradise, Texas, in memory of the murdered seven-year-old.

Many wore pins, which was the little girl’s favorite color.

Organizer Francis Chamberlin said the event raised $8,775 and received a lot of support from people from all over the country.

“He didn’t deserve this,” he told the WFAA. “He was young. He still had his life ahead of him. And now he’s gone.

The devastated grandfather of murdered seven-year-old Athena Strand has said she forgives the “psycho” FedEx driver accused of kidnapping and murdering her – but she also wishes she could “stay alone in a cell for five minutes” with the suspect.

Mark Strand broke his silence with a heartbreaking Facebook post on Sunday, after his grandson’s body was found about nine miles from his home in Paradise, Texas, and 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner was arrested on murder and kidnapping charges.

In his deplorable social media post, Mr Strand spoke about his turmoil, saying he wanted Mr Horner to “burn in hell forever” but that his faith had led him to ask for forgiveness.

“This body, this man who is me, is angry and I want to be alone in a cell for 5 minutes with the psychopath who took our Athena from us, but a soft, gentle voice in the back of my head tells me I must forgive him,” she wrote.

“This man of flesh wants that psychopath to burn in hell forever, but that gentle voice keeps telling me that I must forgive him. This man of flesh must remain blind and deaf to the message of salvation and never set foot in the same heaven that I know in my heart my dear Athena is now living in. hopes, and yet that gentle voice insists. Why do you ask?”

Mr Strand said he would “probably kill” if he saw Mr Horner in person at this time, but said he had to “choose love” for the sake of his grieving family.

FedEx released a statement expressing its thoughts for Athena Strand’s family after one of its employees was arrested on murder charges.

“Words cannot express our shock and sadness at the reports surrounding this tragic event,” the company said.

“Above all, our thoughts are with the family at this most difficult time and we continue to cooperate fully with the investigating authorities.

“At this time, further questions should be directed to law enforcement.”

Following the arrest of Tanner Lynn Horner, her social media posts came to light.

in a post seen by Independent, The suspect boasts of a dagger he says he received as a gift.

“My brother gave me a dagger YEARS ago!” on a picture of the golden knife in December 2014. made the statement.

That same month, she posted a photo of herself in bed with a racially slurred caption.

“Lying in bed and thinking only of you fucking nigga I’m shit! Haters will hate ^-^” he wrote.

Athena disappeared from her home in Paradise on Wednesday, November 30, without a trace.

The little girl, who was dropped out of school at around 16.30, was last seen alive at around 17.40 after arguing with her stepmother.

About an hour later, her stepmother went to find the seven-year-old in her room to have dinner, but was nowhere to be found.

Athena was reported missing and an Amber Alert was issued the next day.

Over the next two days, hundreds of law enforcement, family members, and local volunteers scoured the area desperate to find him, as his family insisted he wouldn’t go away on his own.

Hopes for his safe return were dashed Friday when police confirmed that his body was found in a ditch about 6 miles from his home.