A FedEx driver allegedly kidnapped a 7-year-old woman from her Texas residence earlier this week earlier than killing the kid, police mentioned.
The chilling crime was revealed as police mentioned Friday evening they discovered the physique of Athena Strand, who was reported lacking after she vanished from her bed room on Wednesday.
Police imagine the FedEx driver, Tanner Lynn Horner, had delivered a bundle to her residence across the time she disappeared, CBS reported.
Horner, 31, reportedly confessed to abducting the younger woman from her residence in Paradise, roughly 40 miles northwest of Fort Price. He has been charged with capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping.
“We knew early on within the investigation that there had been a FedEx driver, made a supply in entrance of the home, about the identical time that little Athena, 7-year-old Athena, got here up lacking,” Clever County Sheriff Lane Akin mentioned throughout a late Friday press convention.
Investigators have “digital proof” that Horner dedicated the crime, however didn't elaborate on what it consists of. The alleged killer is being held on $1.5 million bail.
Athena doubtless died “inside the very hour or so after her departure from her residence,” Akin mentioned. Police wouldn't disclose how Athena died, they mentioned she was discovered southeast of Boyd, a city roughly 10 miles from her Paradise residence.
Athena was reported lacking at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday after her stepmother couldn’t discover her within the residence.
“We all know that there was just a little little bit of an argument between her and her step-mom final evening nevertheless it isn’t something uncommon,” Clever County Sheriff Lane Akin instructed NBC 5. “There was that argument, then step-mom went to repair dinner, got here again to get Athena, and Athena wasn’t in her room.”
The stepmother looked for Athena for about an hour earlier than she reported the younger woman lacking, Akin mentioned.
Police had theorized she left the house on her personal however could have gotten misplaced. Officers waited to launch an Amber Alert till Thursday morning as a result of her household instructed police that Athena had accomplished this earlier than and officers hoped they'd discover her within the evening, WFAA reported.
Athena’s household, nevertheless, instructed police the woman is afraid of the darkish and have been uncertain she would willingly go away the house alone.
“We positively don’t imagine Athena ran off,” Keeland Kulbeth, Athena’s aunt and sister to Athena’s mother, instructed NBC 5.
Police didn't discredit criminality and kidnapping potentialities.
Athena’s disappearance sparked intense search efforts. About 200 residents joined varied Texas departments to comb an estimated 50 acres in Paradise. The response was so overwhelming that the Clever County Workplace of Emergency Administration division requested volunteers to cease displaying as much as search events.
The search continued via Friday. Through the evening searches, helicopters used thermal imaging to catch indicators of Athena, Akin mentioned.
Athena’s household describes her as a sort and candy little woman.
“She’s a really loving, pleasant child, loves folks, loves animals, loves flowers, she’s a really girly woman,” Kulbeth instructed NBC 5.
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