Athena Strand: Texans to wear pink to honor 7-year-old girl kidnapped and killed by FedEx driver
WISE COUNTY, TEXAS: Texas residents are being urged to support 7-year-old child Athena Strand, who was found dead last week after being abducted by FedEx driver Tanner Lynn Horner. In rural Wise County, Strand was the subject of an AMBER alert after she disappeared last week. Her body was found Friday evening, December, 2. Tanner, 31, admitted to abducting and murdering her Wednesday. Horner was delivering a box to Strand's home while working as a FedEx driver at the time of the alleged abduction.
The girl's stepmother had reported Athena missing, and two days later her body was discovered less than 10 miles from the home of the girl's father. According to authorities, Horner was delivering a box to Strand's home as a FedEx driver at the time of the alleged abduction.
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As the investigation continues, officials are asking residents in North Texas to wear pink in honor of the 7-year-old victim. In a statement, Wise County Judge JD Clark said pink was Strand's favorite color and that he urges everyone in the county to wear the color on Monday. "My heart is so heavy about Athena. I understand that her favorite color is pink, so I call on all of Wise County to wear pink on Monday. Additionally, I encourage everyone to join me at 6.30 pm on Monday on the Courthouse Steps to pray for Athena, her family, our first responders, and our community."
Comanche Elementary School in Oklahoma, the school where the 7-year-old was a student is also encouraging kids to wear pink in remembrance of the youngster so are other school districts throughout the district, WTHR reported. "CES encourages students to wear pink on Monday in memory of Athena Strand, a former student who was due to return. She died tragically last week while in Texas at her dad’s. Our hearts are heavy for her family as they prepare to lay her to rest. Our school guidance counselor and other school counselors will be available for any student who may need help in dealing with their grief during this time as Athena has many family and friends here. We kneel in prayer for this precious family," the school posted on Facebook.
Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin, as per a report described the case as "one of the worst investigations I've ever been engaged with" when he announced the discovery of Strand's death on Friday. "When a child dies, it simply breaks your heart. You compare that youngster to your own children at the same age "Akin said. The body of the 7-year-old boy was discovered about six miles southeast of Boyd. According to authorities, Horner is the only suspect in the case. Horner is being charged with capital murder and aggravated abduction, according to Akin. Though investigators have said that Horner has no reported previous criminal record a report said that a 23-year-old woman named Shay Marie reportedly has repeatedly claimed on social media that Horner raped her in 2014 when she was age 16. However, it is not clear if Horner was ever prosecuted. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Horner did not appear to have a prior criminal record. Uber told them on Saturday that Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, has not driven on the Uber app “in months.” He has been banned from the platform." However, no reasons were given as to why he was banned by Uber.