FedEx Driver Kidnaps 7 Year Old Girl In Texas, Girl Is Found Murdered

WISE COUNTY, Texas - The search for a missing Wise County little girl has come to a terrible end.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin confirmed that 7-year-old Athena Strand’s body was found Friday afternoon in Boyd, Texas. It's about six miles from the Cottondale Fire Department.

Akin says a tip led them to a driver contracted by FedEx, who is believed to have abducted Athena from her home Wednesday night. The driver confessed to kidnapping her. Athena likely died an hour after her disappearance, the sheriff said.

Authorities say the driver, 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner of Fort Worth, was an independent contractor. He is being held in the Wise County Jail and is charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. He is being held on a $1.5 million bond.

Whoops! We couldn't access this Tweet.
Athena’s biological mother showed up to Friday’s news conference. She didn’t want to talk on camera but said she is desperate to have her daughter home.

Sheriff Akin says information from interviews initially led them to that area. But it turns out that was incorrect as her body was recovered elsewhere.

Acting FBI Agent In Charge Jim Dwyer says it was digital evidence that led them to the driver who was contracted to deliver packages for FedEx, but he would not specify.

Sheriff Akin says Athena’s case has personally been one of the most challenging he’s faced.

Athena got off of her school bus on Wednesday at 4:15 p.m.

Athena’s stepmother called 911 at 6:40 p.m. to report her missing from her home in Paradise. She told investigators there was an argument and later the girl was not in her room. The sheriff says she waited an hour to tell authorities because she went looking for the girl first.

Athena's cause of death has not been determined. Her body is being taken to the medical examiner's office.