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The Disappearance of Athena Strand
On November 30, 2022, Athena Strand, a 7-year-old girl from Wise County, Texas, went missing from her front yard. She was last seen playing with her dog around 11 a.m. while her stepmother was inside the house. When the stepmother went outside to check on her, she was gone. The family reported her missing to the authorities and a massive search was launched.
The case attracted a lot of attention on social media, especially on Reddit, where users speculated about the possible scenarios and suspects. Some users accused the stepmother of being involved in the disappearance, citing her previous criminal record and her argument with Athena before she vanished. Others suggested that Athena might have wandered off or been taken by a wild animal.
The Confession of Tanner Horner
However, the truth turned out to be much more horrifying. On December 3, 2022, the authorities announced that they had arrested Tanner Horner, a 31-year-old FedEx driver, who confessed to abducting and killing Athena. According to his statement, he was delivering packages in the area when he saw Athena playing in her yard. He backed up his truck and hit her with minor injuries. He then panicked and decided to kidnap her and put her in his truck. He drove to a remote location and tried to break her neck. When that failed, he strangled her to death. He then dumped her body in a wooded area near Bridgeport.
The authorities found Athena’s body on December 4, 2022, after Horner led them to the location. They also found evidence linking him to the crime, such as blood stains in his truck and DNA samples from Athena’s clothing. Horner was charged with capital murder and is facing the death penalty if convicted.
The Shock and Anger of the Public
The news of Athena’s death and Horner’s confession shocked and angered the public, especially those who followed the case on Reddit. Many users expressed their grief and condolences to Athena’s family and friends. They also apologized for wrongly accusing the stepmother and praised the authorities for their swift investigation. Some users also questioned how Horner was able to pass the background check and work as a FedEx driver, given that he had a previous accusation of rape by a 16-year-old girl in 2015. According to WFAA, Horner was never charged or convicted of that crime due to lack of evidence.
The case of Athena Strand is one of the most tragic and disturbing stories of child abduction and murder in recent history. It also shows how social media can be a double-edged sword when it comes to spreading information and opinions about ongoing investigations. While some users may have good intentions and want to help solve the case, others may jump to conclusions and spread false or harmful rumors that can hurt the innocent parties involved. Therefore, it is important to be careful and respectful when discussing such sensitive topics online.
