Seven year old Athena Strand was abducted by a contract driver for Federal Express in Paradise, Texas. Two days later her body was found less than ten miles from her father’s home.

Athena was staying with her father and stepmother before returning to her mother’s home around Christmas. Her stepmother reported the little girl missing, apparently as the stepmother cooked dinner. Athena’s body was found Friday. Tanner Lynn Horner, 30, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder. He confessed to killing Athena and told authorities where to find her body, according Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin. Horner previously worked as an Uber driver but has been banned from the platform. He was held Saturday on $1.5M bond.

It’s a tragic story, made all the worse that it happened during the Christmas season. The killer is reported to have not known Athena or her family. It was a random crime of opportunity that the driver committed after delivering a package to her home. Her family and community are grief-stricken. The case has gotten a lot of media attention across Texas and was a nationwide story over the weekend.

School districts across Texas are asking people to wear pink today, Athena’s favorite color.

In memory of Athena Strand, Northwest ISD will join nearby districts by wearing pink on Monday, December 5. Please join us as we show support for the Strand family and Paradise ISD. #pinkout4Athena pic.twitter.com/6RRIstPDEI

— Northwest ISD (@NorthwestISD) December 4, 2022

Meanwhile, Athena’s grandfather is making news over his decision to forgive the killer. He wrote about his decision on his Facebook page. It’s a long post but explains why he is willing to forgive the killer, though he’d really like five minutes alone with the animal. He says he forgives the killer to honor Athena.

This is an excerpt from his Facebook post. You can read the entire post by using the link above.

I can’t quiet my mind and I have to share this. A friend just asked me the other day if I believe God speaks to people? I happen to know He does, as He is speaking to me now. This flesh, this man that I am, is angry and I want 5 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. This flesh man, wants that psycho to burn in hell for all eternity, yet that gentle voice continues to tell me, I need to forgive him. This flesh man hopes he remains blind and deaf to the message of salvation and never sets foot in the same heaven that I know in my heart my darling Athena resides in now and yet, that gentle voice persists. Why you ask? Because Hate is a powerful force that will take root in your soul. God wants to protect us all from that hate. Hate is the gateway for the Evil we see growing in the world today.

I don’t know that I’m that strong of a person. His faith is serving him well, comforting him in his time of need. As a mother, I don’t think I could forgive someone who took the life of my child. The grandfather doesn’t want hate to win.

The killer seems to have no previous criminal record. A spokesperson for Uber didn’t explain to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram why he was banned several months ago. There is a 23-year-old woman, though, who has repeatedly claimed on social media that Athena’s killer raped her in 2014 when she was 16. It isn’t clear if he was prosecuted.

Athena’s mother, Maitlyn Gandy, is 26-years-old and lives in Oklahoma. She also posted her feelings on social media.

“Athena is innocent, beautiful, kind, intelligent, and just the brightest, happiest soul you could ever meet,” Gandy wrote.

“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.

“Athena’s case and the trial against the absolute monster that took her from me, May very well get moved to another county or district in Texas due to the large community involvement (which I am so grateful for),” Gandy wrote, asking others to share her daughter’s story and photo.

“I do not want the bastard that took my baby from me and brutally murdered her to go to any city, town, county, state, or country without every single person knowing her face,” she added.

“Thank you for finding my baby,” Gandy wrote in a separate post voicing gratitude to the law enforcement agencies and volunteers who helped search for her daughter. “I know everyone wishes this would have ended differently.”

It’s a sad and horrible story. She was a beautiful child. May she rest in peace.