The FedEx driver suspected of killing7-year-old Athena Strandhad just delivered a set of Barbie dolls to her Texas home before allegedly abducting her in what police allege was a crime of opportunity, reports say.
“Athena was robbed of the opportunity to be anything she wanted to be. And this present, ordered out of innocence and love is one she will never receive,” Gandy told reporters, alongside her attorney, Benson Varghese, the outlet reports.
Athena Strand.Texas EquuSearch Facebook
It is suspected Athena was abducted from her driveway.
“She was an amazing little girl who loved singing, dancing and all animals,” she continued. “She also loved school and all her friends in the first grade who are also struggling with her senseless murder. Athena also loved flowers, but she wasn’t afraid to get down in the mud with the boys. She was her father’s daughter.”
Gandy vowed to work toward fighting to ensure extensive background checks are implemented among delivery companies, adding that “screening and hiring policies must be put into place so that monsters wearing delivery uniforms don’t show up on our children’s doorsteps.”
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Varghese also said he would “hold any person or corporation accountable whose actions or inactions could have prevented this little girl’s tragic death,” according to the station.
Horner is being held on $1.5 million bond on charges of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder, jail records indicate.
It was unclear Thursday if he entered a plea to the charges or retained an attorney to comment on his behalf.
source: people.com
