On Monday morning, Tanner Horner, from Wise County, Texas, pleaded not guilty to the accusation of murdering 7-year-old Athena Strand in November.
Horner, 31, appeared in the courtroom but remained silent, as his lawyer entered the plea on his behalf.
Additionally, present in the courtroom was Strand’s mother, Maitlyn Gandy, who confronted the individual charged with the murder of her daughter.
Gandy’s hair continued to be a vibrant pink shade, which was her daughter’s preferred color.
It has been a moment that she has contemplated for a considerable amount of time, and it is likely one of the most challenging moments of her life to witness the individual responsible for her daughter’s death. Although Gandy remained silent during the court proceedings and refrained from making any statements after the appearance, her legal representative, Benson Varghese, described it as a traumatic experience.
‘I guess it’s surreal in a way, but it was of utmost importance for her to be there,’ he included.
Horner was apprehended on December 2, 2022, coinciding with the discovery of Athena’s remains.
He strangled her to death and then panicked, putting the little girl inside his vehicle. He confessed to the police that he accidentally hit Strand with his delivery van as he was delivering Christmas presents to the house.
According to the autopsy report, Her death was ruled as a homicide due to evidence of strangulation and smothering, as well as blunt-force injuries to her neck and head.
On February 17, a panel in Wise County officially accused Horner of abducting and killing the young girl.
Sheriff Lane Akin of Wise County stated that the prosecutors intend to pursue capital punishment for Horner.
In Fort Worth, Horner is currently incarcerated with a bail amount of $1.5 million. He is confronting three more charges of engaging in sexual misconduct with a minor in 2013 and has been accused of sexually attacking a minor nearly ten years ago.
Athena’s father, Jacob Strand, has launched legal action against FedEx, claiming they did not carry out sufficient background checks before hiring Horner.
‘I endorse capital punishment. In any potential sentencing,’ Gandy informed WFAA.
‘Every breath he takes is one that my daughter doesn’t.’
Gandy previously expressed her desire for him to have just driven off and allowed her daughter to walk.
‘We are extremely lenient individuals,’ she stated.
We could have forgiven him. He could have just been driven away. Even if Athena had a few scrapes and bumps, she was not injured.
Accidents can occur, but he made a decision to do more – and his actions were inexcusable.
I wished that he would let me go away, and just as I wished, Athena walked away. I couldn’t believe that Athena walked away, and it has been hard for me to accept it.
According to the arrest affidavit, Horner claimed that Strand did not suffer any significant harm when he crashed into her with his minivan.
Gandy expresses that she is still mourning for her daughter while attempting to take care of her other young child, Rilyn.
Gandy, with tears streaming down his face, expressed, “It is incredibly tragic and extremely frightening. I am so scared right now. I tightly embrace my three-year-old and every night I meticulously ensure that all of my doors are triple-checked.”
She explains, “It’s been rough for our family, seeing her sister without going to her for a long time. Yet, she doesn’t understand why she hasn’t come home or why she can’t call her ‘sissy’.”
‘We’re managing. We’re attempting to operate. It’s been a lengthy period. Difficult but extremely disorderly simultaneously.
‘I’m feeling down. I’m furious. I’m perplexed. I am giving my utmost effort.
‘I’ve been very scared, and I don’t sleep very often or for an extended period of time. Noises at night scare me.’.