A FedEx driver panicked after hanging a 7-year-old lady in Texas together with his work van and threw her within the truck, the place he killed her, authorities mentioned.
Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, who’s charged with capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping, advised authorities he positioned Athena Strand in his work truck after he struck her with it, in response to an arrest warrant affidavit launched Thursday.
Horner allegedly advised investigators the kid was not significantly injured when he by chance backed the truck into her. Horner additionally advised investigators he even spoke to the lady in his van the place she advised him her identify, the affidavit mentioned.
However he killed her after he “panicked” and since “she was going to inform her father about being hit by the FedEx truck the Defendant was working,” the affidavit mentioned.
A number of media retailers reported Thursday Athena’s mom, Maitlyn Gandy, saying Horner was delivering Athena’s Christmas current, “You Can Be Something” Barbie dolls, shortly earlier than she was killed.”Athena was robbed of the chance to develop as much as be something she needed to be,” Gandy mentioned, whereas at instances breaking down and crying. “I used to be purported to deliver Athena again residence to Oklahoma after Christmas break. Now as an alternative, Athena will probably be cremated and she’s going to come residence in an urn as a result of I’m not wherever near being able to let my child go.”
The affidavit mentioned Athena’s stepmother referred to as 911 to report the lady went lacking from their residence in Paradise, in Clever County, on Nov. 30 about 6:41 p.m.
The kid was reported lacking lower than an hour after her stepmother final noticed her in her momentary bed room, which was a transformed storage shed she shared together with her stepsister, the affidavit mentioned.
Investigators, in response to the affidavit, discovered FedEx delivered a bundle across the time she went lacking. Investigators labored with a contracting firm delivering packages for FedEx, to find out which van and driver made the supply.
Investigators additionally discovered the FedEx truck was geared up with cameras that captured one-minute clips, the affidavit mentioned. An worker with the FBI, the affidavit mentioned, analyzed video proof and “discovered the driving force had taken a younger lady who was visibly just like Athena in his van. The driving force was seen on video speaking to her within the van,” the affidavit mentioned.
Investigators had been in a position to establish Horner as the driving force.
Horner, after allegedly admitting he killed the lady, additionally allegedly advised investigators the place to search out her. Regulation enforcement personnel discovered the lifeless youngster in water, the affidavit mentioned.
Horner was arrested Friday, two days after the lady disappeared, which prompted a big search with round 200 volunteers from the group.
On Friday, authorities discovered her physique southeast of the town of Boyd, a metropolis about 11 miles away, Clever County Sheriff Lane Akin advised reporters.
“We do have a confession,” Akin mentioned at a information convention Friday evening.
A bond for Horner was set at $1.5 million. It was not instantly clear Thursday evening if Horner had an legal professional.
FedEx has mentioned in an announcement that its ideas are with the household, and the corporate is cooperating totally with legislation enforcement.
“Phrases can’t describe our shock and sorrow on the studies surrounding this tragic occasion,” FedEx mentioned.
