The mother of 7-year-old Athena Strand took the witness stand on Wednesday during the ongoing psychiatric trial of Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver who admitted to kidnapping and murdering her daughter. Horner, 34, had previously pleaded guilty to capital murder just before the trial began in Texas. Now, jurors are deliberating between sentencing him to death or life in prison without parole.
During the proceedings, Athena’s mother, Maitlin Gandy, recounted her last moments with Athena. When asked about her final words to her daughter, Gandy responded, “I told her I loved her and would see her on Friday.” She explained that they had just dropped Athena off to spend time with her father, who had plans to take her to see Christmas lights.
Wearing pink, which was Athena’s favorite color, Gandy recalled how she drove back to Texas from Oklahoma after hearing about her daughter’s disappearance. “I felt like I was going to die. I couldn’t breathe, but I had to keep going. I almost hit the brakes because it felt like I was having a heart attack. But I thought if I kept going, maybe I’d find her,” she shared.
Moreover, Gandy detailed how she broke the heartbreaking news of Athena’s death to her three-year-old sister. Reflecting on this experience, she admitted to avoiding the truth for a long time. “I didn’t think I was strong enough to tell her. I said I was with my dad or sleeping whenever she wanted to call,” she explained. It wasn’t until about a year ago that her sister learned what really happened.
When asked about the video evidence showing Horner strangling Athena, Gandy mentioned she could only watch a few minutes. She expressed sympathy for the jurors who had to view it more extensively, saying, “No one in this room asked what was on that video other than Tanner Horner, and certainly neither did Athena.” The defense attorney chose not to question her but offered condolences for her loss.
Horner confessed to abducting Athena while delivering a package of toys to her father’s home in Paradise in 2022. Her body was discovered days later, on December 2, after she was reported missing. Initially, he claimed he had accidentally hit the girl with his van, leading to a panic that resulted in her being strangled.
Citing the coroner’s testimony, it was revealed that Athena died from blunt force trauma, asphyxiation, and strangulation, which indicated that she likely suffered prior to her death. After the murder, Horner wrote a letter of apology to Athena’s family, expressing his sorrow and reflecting on the impact of his actions.
Before stepping down from the stand, Gandy was clear about her reason for attending the trial daily. “My daughter had handprint bruises on her neck because she doesn’t have a voice anymore,” she stated. “And I want people to know that she’s more than just a story or just a number… She was loved. She is loved. And she will be missed.” Gandy emphasized her commitment to ensure Athena’s memory is honored and remembered.
