FedEx driver allegedly strangled Athena Strand after hitting her with delivery van: warrant - New York Post

FedEx operator Tanner Lynn Horner told Texas constabulary helium strangled 7-year-old Athena Strand retired of fearfulness she would archer her begetter helium deed her with his transportation van, according to an apprehension warrant.

Horner admitted to grabbing the young miss from her Paradise gait and tossing her successful the motortruck successful a infinitesimal of panic aft accidentally backing the van into her past week, according to the warrant obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Athena was not earnestly injured successful the Nov. 30 accident, but Horner, acrophobic of the consequences, allegedly decided to termination her, the study said.

He told constabulary helium tried unsuccessfully to interruption her cervix earlier strangling her with his bare hands successful the FedEx truck, according to the apprehension warrant.

Horner disposed of her assemblage successful the h2o connected the borderline of the Trinity River adjacent Boyd, astir 10 miles from her Paradise home.

A video taken from a camera wrong the van shows Athena inside, Horner talking with her and yet sidesplitting her, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office affidavit says.

The 31-year-old FedEx operator led constabulary to Athena’s body 2 days aft her stepmother reported her missing.

Video footage from wrong Tanner Horner’s transportation van confirmed that helium kidnapped and murdered 7-year-old Athena Strand.Wise County Jail

Police tracked down Horner aft they discovered helium had delivered a bundle to the location soon earlier the girl’s disappearance.

The delivery turned retired to beryllium Athena’s Christmas present — a acceptable of Barbie dolls called the “You Can Be Anything” postulation — her mother, Maitlyn Gandy, revealed Thursday.

“Athena was robbed of the accidental to turn up to beryllium thing she wanted to be. And this contiguous ordered retired of innocence and emotion is 1 she volition ne'er receive,” Gandy said

Maitlyn Gandy gives a connection connected the decease of Athena Strand astatine the Wise County Courthouse successful Decatur, Texas, connected Dec. 8, 2022. AP

“I was robbed of watching her turn up by a antheral everyone was expected to beryllium capable to trust. To bash conscionable 1 elemental task: present a Christmas contiguous and leave.”

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin told WFAA Wednesday that helium is asking the territory lawyer to question the decease punishment for Horner.

Horner has been charged with superior execution and aggravated kidnapping and is being held connected $1.5 cardinal bail.

Autopsy results from the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office are pending.