Lacking 7-year-old North Texas lady discovered useless; FedEx driver arrested

A 7-year-old lady who went lacking earlier this week from her North Texas dwelling – prompting an Amber Alert – has been discovered useless, authorities introduced Friday. A FedEx driver has been arrested on kidnapping and homicide expenses.

Athena Strand had went missing Wednesday night from her father’s dwelling in Paradise, Texas, CBS DFW reported, prompting an enormous multiagency search involving lots of of volunteers. 

Her physique was positioned Friday night — due to a tip investigators had acquired earlier within the day — Smart County Sheriff Lane Akin introduced in a information convention late Friday night time.

The suspect, recognized as 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner, was taken into custody Friday on expenses of capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping, Akin mentioned.

Horner was a FedEx contract driver who had delivered a bundle to Strand’s dwelling at in regards to the time she disappeared, Akin disclosed.

“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,” Akin mentioned.

Investigators consider that Strand died “inside the very hour or so after her departure from her dwelling,” Akin added.

He additionally indicated that Horner had confessed to the crime, and famous that investigators had obtained “digital proof,” however didn’t elaborate. 

“We do have a confession,” Akin mentioned. 

FedEx cooperated with investigators, Akin additionally confirmed.    

The reason for Strand’s demise was not launched, or the precise location she was discovered. Her physique was positioned southeast of the Smart County city of Boyd, Akin mentioned.

Horner of Lakeworth, Texas, is being held on $1.5 million bail.

The FBI, Texas Rangers Division, the Texas Division of Household and Protecting Companies and the U.S. Marshals Service had been all concerned within the investigation, based on CBS DFW. 

On the night of Strand’s disappearance, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned, it acquired a name from Strand’s stepmother reporting her lacking after the 2 had an argument whereas her father was not dwelling, CBS DFW reported. 

Paradise is positioned within the Dallas-Forth Value-Arlington metro space, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Value.