Athena Strand murder: Prosecutors will pursue death penalty for FedEx driver ... trends now Texas prosecutors have announced they will seek the death penalty for a FedEx driver accused of kidnapping and murdering a seven-year-old girl. Authorities say Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, was delivering a package to a home in Paradise, Texas, last Wednesday, when he kidnapped Athena Strand, who had been visiting her father and step-mother. Her body was found about six miles away from the home on Friday, with police saying she was likely killed within an hour of her abduction. The Wise County Sheriff's Office has since said Horner confessed to abducting and killing her. He now faces capital murder and aggravated kidnapping charges, and is being held on a $1.5million bond at the Wise County Law Enforcement Center, as Sheriff Lane Akin prepares to have his case turned over to the district attorney by next week. 'Because of the age of the child, and because it was an abduction, we are going to pursue the death penalty,' he told WFAA, noting that the department is still receiving information from the public that deputies are following up on so that they have an air-tight case against him. Meanwhile, Strand's mother, Maitlyn Gandy, is set to speak out about the case at a news conference Thursday afternoon. Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, confessed to police to abducting and killing Athena Strand, 7, on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities are now seeking the death penalty in his case The young girl's body was found six miles from where she was taken on Wednesday afternoon The girl's mother, Maitlyn Gandy, is set to speak out about the case at a news conference Thursday afternoon Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin says he is seeking the death penalty for the man accused of kidnapping and murdering a seven-year-old girl 'Our short-term efforts are focused on Athena's family, taking as much as we can off heir plates so they can mourn her loss,' Benson Varghese, Gandy's lawyer, said in a statement. 'Our long-term goals are to thoroughly investigate how and why this happened and to hold any person or corporation accountable whose actions or inactions could have prevented this little girl's tragic death. 'Corporations like FedEx are welcomed at our homes to bring packages to our doorsteps, not danger,' he continued, adding: 'We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to get answers for Athena.' The shipping company released a statement on Friday night expressing their condolences to the family: 'Words cannot describe our shock at the reports surrounding this tragic event. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family during this most difficult time.' When asked about their hiring practices, a spokesperson for FedEx told FOX News Digital that it 'contracts for transportation, pickup, and delivery services with more than 6,000 independent businesses that are committed to providing outstanding package pickup and delivery services using their own employees.' The spokesperson also said each employee is subject to a criminal background check and 'should we become aware of any criminal activity within our network, we work swiftly to investigate and address those incidents, including cooperating with law enforcement.' Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, confessed to police to abducting and killing Athena on Wednesday afternoon The FedEx van Homer was said to have been driving was found several miles away from where Athena was abducted Police say they connected Horner to the killing based on a tip they received, and his FedEx delivery route on Wednesday. They say he snatched Athena Strand from the driveway of her family home in Paradise, Texas that afternoon, after the girl stepped outside following an argument with her stepmother as Horner was delivering a package. When Athena didn't come back inside and could not be found in her bedroom, her stepmother reported her missing to police at about 6.40pm. Local police then worked in tandem with the FBI, Texas Rangers and Wise County Sheriff's Offices to bring the case to a speedy yet tragic end, although two false leads sent police looking in the wrong places for the girl. The youngster's body was eventually found in Boyd, about six miles away from the home. Horner confessed shortly after being apprehended and now faces capital murder and aggravated kidnapping charges. He is the only suspect authorities believe is responsible in the case, Sheriff Akin said. He did not have any connection to the family. 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 Following the news, Gandy shared a heartbreaking tribute to her young daughter on Facebook, revealing how her younger daughter, Rye, kept crying for her 'sissy' after Athena left to spend time with her father and stepmother. She was set to return to her mother and sister in Comanche, Oklahoma, for Christmas. The video was recorded on November 27, days before little Athena was first reported missing on November 30 and 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.' 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.' Mark Strand wrote that despite part of him wanting 'five 5 minutes alone in a cell' with 31-year-old Tanner Horner, who abducted and killed his seven-year-old granddaughter Athena, he decided to listen to another part that told him forgiveness was the only way for him and his family to recover Meanwhile, Athena's grandfather, Mark Strand, said on Facebook despite part of him wanting 'five minutes alone in a cell' with 31-year-old Tanner Horner, he decided to listen to another part that told him forgiveness was the only way for him and his family to recover. 'This man I am is angry, and I want five minutes alone in a cell with the psycho that took our Athena away from us, but there's a soft, gentle voice in the back of my head telling me I need to forgive him,' he wrote in an emotional Facebook post. 'If I allow this hate to consume me, that voice will fade and eventually be silenced. Then that ugly spirit of hate will have succeeded and that's why this gentle voice persists to tell me I need to forgive this man.' All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility