- A FedEx driver admitted to kidnapping and killing a 7-year-old girl, police said.
- Tanner Horner, 31, is charged with aggravated kidnapping and capital murder.
A FedEx driver confessed to kidnapping and killing a 7-year-old girl, according to police.
Tanner Horner, 31, of Lake Worth, Texas, was arrested on Friday in connection with the death of Athena Strand, a 7-year-old, police said at a press conference. Horner faces charges of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder, according to KXAS. His bond is set at a total of $1.5 million.
Strand was kidnapped from her driveway on Wednesday, police said. WKYC reported that Horner was delivering a package to Strand's house when he kidnapped her. Police have not released a motive for the killing or a cause of death for Strand.
The Wise County Sheriff's Department did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Saturday.
Wise County Sheriff's Lane Akin said in a press conference that Horner admitted to police that he kidnapped and killed Strand. Horner said that evidence indicated that Strand was killed within one hour of her abduction, according to KXAS.
Strand's stepmother reported her missing at 5:40 pm on Wednesday after she went missing from her room, KXAS reported. She searched for Strand for around an hour before she called authorities, police said.
"It hurts our hearts to know that that child died, so much so that she is on her way now to the medical examiner's office and there is a Texas Ranger in front of her and a Texas Ranger behind her," Wise said at the press conference.
FedEx did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Saturday, but the company posted a statement to Twitter that read: "Our thoughts are with the family of Athena Strand during this most difficult time. Words cannot describe our shock and sorrow surrounding this tragic event. We continue to cooperate fully with the investigating authorities."
—FedEx (@FedEx) December 3, 2022
According to Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Horner previously drove for Uber, but hadn't driven for the rideshare company "in months."