Missing 7-year-old Athena Strand was discovered dead in Wise County.
Missing 7-year-old Athena Strand was discovered dead in Wise County. Athena Strand’s body was found after a two-day search in the freezing Wise County countryside. The 7-year-disappearance old from her father’s house was first reported on November 30.
On December 2, 2022, at around 8:00 p.m., her body was discovered southeast of Boyd, about 9 miles from her home, according to Sheriff Lane Akin.
Police asserted that Athena was abducted by the contract driver of a FedEx truck and that she most likely died an hour later based on digital evidence and a confession.
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The driver, Tanner Lynn Horner, age 31, was identified. He is being held at the Wise County Jail on suspicion of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. His bail has been set at $1.5 million.
Before leading them to Athena’s body, Horner allegedly gave detectives at least two false addresses, including one on CR 4599 that police had cordoned off on Friday afternoon.
Authorities claimed Horner did not know Athena or her family, but they provided no information regarding a potential motive.
Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin stated earlier this week that they believe Athena most likely ran away but did not rule out foul play. “There are many possibilities, and we are considering them all,” the speaker said.
According to the sheriff’s office, her stepmother called the Wise County Sheriff’s Office to report her missing after the two argued while her father was away. She spent “about an hour” looking for her, according to police, before getting in touch with the sheriff’s office.
On Thursday, Athena received an Amber Alert, and several hundred volunteers descended upon Wise County to assist in the search.
