Athena Strand abduction: Texas man arrested for kidnapping, killing 7-year-old woman who went lacking from her residence’s driveway this week

CNN  — 

A driver working for FedEx was arrested and charged Friday within the kidnapping and killing of a 7-year-old woman who had disappeared from her residence’s driveway in Texas earlier this week, police stated.

Athena Strand’s physique was recovered Friday night, Smart County Sheriff Lane Akin stated at a information convention.

“It hurts our hearts to know that baby died,” Akin stated Friday.

“It’s one of many hardest investigations that I’ve been concerned in as a result of it’s a toddler. And anytime there’s a toddler that dies, it simply hits you in your coronary heart,” he stated.

Athena was reported missing Wednesday and authorities launched a seek for her throughout Smart County, situated northwest of Fort Price. Authorities consider the younger woman was killed inside an hour after her kidnapping from her household’s driveway, which is about 200 yards from her residence.

Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, is being held in Smart County jail on capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping costs, in response to its web site. Bond was set at $1.5 million, Akin stated. It was unclear whether or not Horner had an legal professional Friday.

Horner, recognized by authorities as a contract driver for FedEx, was allegedly making a supply to Athena’s residence on the time she disappeared.

Earlier Friday, police say they acquired a tip that helped investigators decide Horner kidnapped the kid from her driveway.

Strand’s mom, Maitlyn Presley Gandy, stated her daughter was taken from her by “a sick, merciless monster for completely no purpose,” she wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday morning.

“I can not describe the ache and absolute anger I really feel. Lacking her doesn’t cowl how I really feel,” Gandy stated within the submit accompanying a video of Athena, then age 3 “I would like the world to know my child, my first child, my first real love, the explanation I breathe.”

“Athena is harmless, lovely, form, clever, and simply the brightest, happiest soul you possibly can ever meet. I don’t need her to be the woman often called the one murdered and discarded by a monster,” she added. “I would like everybody to know, each single individual on this world, that that is my child and my child was taken from me. I would like everybody to know her face and her voice and simply how great of an individual she is.”

Athena shall be remembered for a lot, like her dream of rising as much as be a Viking princess with tattoos identical to her dad’s, how a lot she liked her two little sisters, and her love for something pink, her mother wrote.

Authorities didn’t point out a potential motive and stated Horner didn’t know the household or the kid, in response to Akin.

Athena’s reason behind dying stays underneath investigation and her physique was transferred to the health worker’s workplace Friday, Akin stated.

In an announcement to CNN, FedEx expressed its sympathies and directed additional inquiries to legislation enforcement.

“Phrases can not describe our shock and sorrow on the studies surrounding this tragic occasion. At the beginning, our ideas are with the household throughout this most tough time, and we proceed to cooperate totally with the investigating authorities,” the assertion reads.