1 year ago
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7-year-old Athena Strand was with her step-mother arsenic a Fed-Ex operator came to the residence successful Paradise, Texas to present a bundle that was intended to beryllium Athena's Christmas present, a bundle of Barbie dolls. Athena was headed backmost to her mother's location aft the holidays. On this day, she was staying with her father, Jacob Strand, and his wife. Athena's stepmother waited an hr to study her disappearance believing she whitethorn person conscionable walked distant implicit an statement they had the nighttime before. Athena got disconnected the schoolhouse autobus astatine 4:15 p.m. and was believed to person near the residence astir 5:15 p.m., erstwhile the stepmom realized she was missing.
Law Enforcement joined their hunt efforts with astir 200 adjacent citizens raking implicit 50 acres successful Paradise. Helicopters with thermals besides joined the search. Athena's begetter was retired of municipality connected a hunting trip, and her parent lived successful Oklahoma.
Two days aboriginal connected December 2, 2022, Athena would beryllium recovered astir 10 miles away, deceased.
A contractor for Fed-Ex delivery, 30-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner, admitted to abducting and sidesplitting Athena. He told investigators that helium accidentally deed her successful his van portion backing retired of the residence and panicked. He got retired of the van, enactment her successful the van, and they argued. Instead of reporting the accidental incidental to her family, helium chose to abduct her, and drove away. He attempted to interruption her neck, and erstwhile that failed, helium strangled her with his hands successful the backmost of his van.
Horner took investigators to wherever helium near Athena's body, aft giving them 2 mendacious locations. It is believed Athena was murdered wrong the hr aft she was abducted. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping, and superior murder. The Wise County State Attorney's Office is seeking the decease penalty.
Athena's begetter has begun a suit against the contractor that hired Horner, and is seeking $1 cardinal successful damages and a assemblage trial.
Delivery Drivers Respond
In an inspiring connection that spanned crossed TikTok, Amazon, UPS & Fed Drivers came unneurotic to nonstop a connection to Athena, her family, and each parents crossed the globe. The connection tag #yourbabiesaresafeonmyroute took an bosom wrenching turn, with each drivers promising information connected their routes, with their hearts lasting with Athena. Bows connected their trucks arsenic they deliver, arsenic a reminder to them and each those connected their route, that Athena is remembered with each bundle delivered.
The main video here:
https://www.tiktok.com/@ashley_creed/video/7174819413311458603
Obituary
A backstage work was held for household and adjacent friends Friday December 9, 2022.
Athena Presley Monroe Strand was calved May 23, 2015, successful Duncan, Oklahoma, to parents Jacob Strand and Maitlyn Gandy.
A first-grader astatine Paradise Elementary School, Athena had an ever-present grin which brought joyousness and happiness to everyone she encountered. She made friends arsenic easy arsenic a butterfly tin flap its wings and would airy up immoderate country she walked into. Athena had galore hobbies and interests, including horseback riding, doing makeup, being a princess, and loving life. She besides enjoyed spending clip with her household and playing with her sisters arsenic often arsenic possible.
Pallbearers volition see Jacob Strand, Steve Kulbeth, Mark Strand, Zach Strand, Elijah Strand, and Josh Kaul.
Survivors see her parents Maitlyn Gandy, Jacob Strand and wife, Ashley; sisters Rilyn Dawn Gandy, Yrsa Liv Strand, and Alice Elizabeth Strand; great-grandparents Doylene Thompson, Jackie Kulbeth, Eloise Strand, and Jeannie Watson; grandparents Steven Kulbeth, Mark Strand, Shelly and Daymon Crittenden, and Terry Stephens and woman Bridget; aunts and uncles Keeland Kulbeth, Kaden Jones and hubby Jerrad, Kayla Kaul and hubby Josh, Zachariah Strand and wife, Heather, Elijah Strand and wife, Madison, Andrea Larrazolo, Isaiah Castillo, Jacob Stevens, Tyler and Christina; and a big of friends and family.
Athena was preceded successful decease by her grammy Beverly Dawn Kulbeth of Comanche, Oklahoma; great-grandpa Hank Henry Strand of Bridgeport, Texas; and great-uncle Brady Strand.
Information accumulated by:
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