Warning: This article contains details of a child’s death that some may find disturbing.
Athena Strand’s mother has spoken about the last exchange she had with her seven-year-old daughter before the child was abducted and killed on 30 November 2022 by a FedEx driver.
Maitlyn Gandy testified in court on Wednesday (May 6), coming face-to-face with Tanner Horner, the man responsible for Athena’s death.
Horner, 34, was sentenced to death by lethal injection after entering a guilty plea shortly before his trial was due to start.
At the time of the kidnapping, Athena was at her father’s home near Fort Worth, Texas. Horner arrived at the property to make a delivery while she was visiting.
Video taken from inside the FedEx vehicle captured Horner driving away with Athena and warning her he would hurt her if she did not remain quiet.
Her naked body was discovered a few days later.
In court, Horner admitted he first tried to break Athena’s neck and, when that failed, he strangled her.
He was later taken into custody and accused of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder.
Prosecutors heard that the events unfolded shortly after Gandy had dropped Athena off with her ex-partner. From the witness stand, Gandy described what she said to her daughter at their final goodbye.
“I told her that I loved her and that I would see her on Friday,” Gandy said as she wore pink clothing and newly dyed pink hair to match Athena’s favorite color, Fox 4 News reported.
“We had a quick drop-off because her daddy was going to take them to the Christmas lights.”
Gandy also told the court about seeing Athena at the morgue, explaining that she brought something personal for her daughter to wear.
“When I got to her, she was so cold, and she didn’t like the cold, so I wanted to make sure that she was dressed,” Gandy told the court. “I wanted to make sure she had one of her bows. So I got her some bows.”
Following the sentencing, Athena’s uncle, Elijah Strand, delivered a statement in court directed at Horner.
“You are nothing – you are a footnote in Athena’s story.
“Her name will forever be remembered, her name will forever be celebrated, and everyone will forget you.”
He continued: “Athena was more than a headline. She was laughter, curiosity, kindness and innocence. And she had dreams that she will never get to chase, birthdays that she will never celebrate and a life she’ll never get to live, because of his actions.”
Horner remained largely expressionless in court. At the conclusion of the proceedings, he signaled to the judge that he intended to appeal the death sentence.
Timeline of the investigation into Athena Strand’s murder
30 November 2022
Tanner Horner delivers a Christmas present to Athena Strand’s home, a box of ‘You Can Be Anything’ Barbie dolls.
Athena had got into an argument with her stepmum Elizabeth Strand, and it’s believed she went outside to go to her makeshift bedroom in a converted storage shed, where she was staying during home renovations.
Horner kidnaps her. She is thought to have died about an hour after her disappearance.
CBS reports that police track down Horner the same day through digital evidence.
1 December 2022
Texas’ Department of Public Safety issues an amber alert to try and find Athena. Two hundred civilians helped scour over 50 acres of land without success.
2 December 2022
Police find Athena’s naked body dumped near a river in Boyd, around nine miles from her home. Horner gives the police two false locations, before telling them where to find the body.
He originally says he ran over Athena and panicked, before admitting to killing her.
He is charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping and held on a $1.5 million bond.
6 March 2023
Horner pleads not guilty during his arraignment in Wise County.
Technicalities such as who should represent Horner and concerns around pre-trial publicity are said to have slowed down legal proceedings.
7 April 2026
Horner changes his plea to guilty just as his trial is about to begin.
Jurors are instead asked if he should receive the death penalty or life in prison.
They are asked two questions. First, do you consider Horner to be a continuing threat to society? Second, are there mitigating circumstances that should exclude Horner from receiving the death penalty?
5 May 2026
Tanner Horner is sentenced to death by lethal injection.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.
If you have experienced a child bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.