Texas community joins parents in grief over murder of Athena Strand – updates

The physique of Athena Strand, the seven-year-old woman from Texas who went lacking on Wednesday has been discovered 6 miles away from her house, authorities stated on Friday.

Sensible County Sheriff Lane Akin stated {that a} FedEx truck driver kidnapped Athena and that she possible died inside an hour based mostly on digital proof and on a confession, CBS Information reported.

The motive force, Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, is being held on the Sensible County Jail on prices of capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping.

An Amber Alert was issued on Thursday for the kid, who vanished the night time earlier than in Paradise.

In line with the Sensible County Sheriff’s Workplace, the kid was dropped off from college at her house in Paradise at 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Her stepmother reportedly known as police to report her lacking round 6.40pm that day when she didn’t discover Athena in her room after an argument.

After affirmation of her demise, Athena’s mom posted a heartbreaking assertion on Fb calling her a “princess” and calling her assassin a “merciless, sick monster”.

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Suspect taken into custody on Friday

The Sensible County sheriff introduced on Friday {that a} FedEx driver had been taken into custody.

The motive force, recognized by police as 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner is being held on the Sensible County Jail on prices of capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping.

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 09:15

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Heartbroken neighborhood mourns loss

The First Baptist Church of Cottondale was a gathering place for volunteers and Athena’s household whereas the seek for her was carried out this week. A vigil will probably be held on the church on Tuesday.

Pastor Charles Pugh spoke with CBS Information.

“Your coronary heart goes out to the mother and father. It’s simply so random it looks like, that it occurred that approach,” he stated.

When the information broke that Athena had been discovered lifeless, Pugh was along with her mother and father.

“He’s simply sort of numb I believe,” stated Pugh of her dad’s response. “Frustration, however he had a superb spirit.”

At Friday night time’s press convention, Sheriff Lane Akin was visibly emotional.

“It hurts our hearts to know that little one died,” he stated, “This neighborhood doesn’t like dropping our youngsters and we will see it due to all of the individuals who got here out and helped us all through this ordeal.”

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 07:15

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Devastating information introduced on Friday night

After two days of looking, Sensible County Sheriff Lane Akin delivered the devastating information that Athena’s physique had been discovered at a Friday night information convention.

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 05:15

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What occurred on the day Athena disappeared

The Sensible County Sheriff’s Workplace says that seven-year-old Athena Strand went to high school and returned to her house in Paradise, Texas at roughly 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Her father had left his spouse and daughter at house to go looking, and Athena and her stepmother allegedly acquired into an argument after she arrived house from college.

“We all know that there was a bit little bit of an argument between her and her step-mom final night time however it isn’t something uncommon,” Sensible County Sheriff Lane Akin stated. “There was that argument, then step-mom went to repair dinner, got here again to get Athena, and Athena wasn’t in her room.”

At roughly 6.40pm Athena’s stepmother known as 911 when she realised that the little woman was not in her bed room nor wherever else in the home after spending an hour in search of her.

Police issued an AMBER Alert and the seek for Athena started. Some 200 volunteers from the area people joined legislation enforcement officers within the search in a single day, via Thursday, and into Friday.

Athena’s physique was discovered roughly 11 miles away from her house.

“It hurts our hearts to know that little one died,” Sheriff Akin stated throughout a press convention on Friday night. “It’s one of many hardest investigations that I’ve been concerned in as a result of it’s a baby. And anytime there’s a baby that dies, it simply hits you in your coronary heart.”

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 03:15

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Suspect anticipated in court docket on Monday

Tanner Horner is anticipated in court docket on Monday for a detention listening to.

He was booked into Sensible County Jail at 2am on Friday on counts of aggravated kidnapping and capital homicide of an individual underneath the age of 10.

His bond is ready at $1.5m.

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 01:15

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Every thing we find out about Tanner Horner

In line with Sensible County Jail information, Tanner Horner was booked at 2am on Friday on one depend of capital homicide of an individual underneath 10 and aggravated kidnapping. His bond was set at $1.5m.

Oliver O’Connell5 December 2022 00:15

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Video exhibits investigators surrounding FedEx truck

Oliver O’Connell4 December 2022 23:15

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Mom says her ‘princess’ was taken by a ‘merciless monster’

The heartbroken mom of Texas schoolgirl Athena Strand has described the suspect who allegedly confessed to her homicide as a “sick, merciless monster” in a heartbreaking Fb publish.

Oliver O’Connell4 December 2022 22:15

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Native college districts to put on pink in present of help

Space college districts will put on pink in help of Athena Strand, her household and the area people.

Oliver O’Connell4 December 2022 21:30

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Recap: FedEx driver arrested for homicide of Athena Strand, 7, after delivering package deal to her house

Athena was possible kidnapped from her driveway, about 200 yards away from the home, round 6pm on Wednesday night.

Sravasti Dasgupta experiences.

Oliver O’Connell4 December 2022 20:45

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