Athena Strand's mother posts heartbreaking video showing murdered 7-year-old's ... trends now
The mother of 7-year-old Athena Strand who was murdered after being kidnapped by FedEx driver Tanner Lynn Horner last week was been paying tribute to her daughter in a series of heart wrenching Facebook posts.
On Tuesday, Maitlyn Gandy shared a video showing her younger daughter, Rye, crying for her 'sissy' after Strand had gone to spend time with her father and stepmother in Paradise, Texas, prior to the holidays.
Athena was due to return to her mother and sister in Comanche, Oklahoma, for Christmas. According to Gandy, the video was recorded on November 27, little Athena was first reported missing on November 30, she was found dead on December 2.
Gandy says that the video shows Rye 'begging for her sissy.' She says: 'I kept telling her: "It's okay, we will see sissy soon." Not knowing how twisted our lives would become. I took it because she does this anytime she thinks sissy is going somewhere without her.'
Eventually, Gandy says, Rye cried herself to sleep. The grieving mother continued: 'This monster has now extended those feelings for my youngest daughter indefinitely.'
Athena pictured with her younger sister, Rye, according to the pair's mother, they hated to be apart from each other
Athena's mother posted the video alongside this heartbreaking Facebook post
To calm her daughter, Gandy would say: 'It's okay, we will see sissy soon.' Just three days later, Athena would be reported missing
In another post, Gandy wrote: 'Daddy and mommy were scared of how beautiful she has always been and we feel like we failed you. No one deserves what happened to you, but especially you. I love you and love doesn’t even cover it. Mommy is broken without you.'
She also described her angel as 'innocent, beautiful, kid, intelligent and just the brightest, happiest soul you could ever meet.'
Gandy continued: 'I don’t want her to be the girl known as the one murdered and discarded by a monster. I want everyone to know, every single person in this world, that this is my baby and my baby was taken from me.'
31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner is facing charges of aggravated murder and kidnapping in the case. He is being held on a bond of $1.5 million at Wise County Jail.
Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, confessed to police to abducting and killing Athena on Wednesday afternoon
Horner is being held at Wise County Jail on charges of aggravated murder and kidnapping
Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin has described the murder as a 'crime of opportunity.'
Horner snatched Athena Strand from the driveway of her family home in Paradise, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon, and she was found dead 10 miles away on Friday. Police said she was likely killed within an hour of her kidnapping.
On Monday, residents in Texas, as well as those in Comanche, Oklahoma, were asked to wear pink in celebration of Athena's life. Pink was the 1st grader's favorite color.
The request in Wise County came from local judge J.D. Clark who said: 'My heart is so heavy about Athena. Additionally, I encourage everyone to join me at 6:30pm on Monday on the Courthouse steps to pray for
