WISE COUNTY, Texas — The body of a missing 7-year-old Wise County girl has been found – and a contract FedEx truck driver is in custody, ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas reported late Friday.
Authorities had been searching for Athena Strand of Paradise since she went missing Wednesday. An AMBER Alert was issued for the child Thursday.
Arrested in connection with the child’s death is Tanner Lynn Horner, 31. He is being held in Wise County Jail with bond set at $1.5 million.
Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin made the announcements during a Friday night press conference.
Akin said the body of the 7-year-old had been found southeast of Boyd – and that Horner had been delivering a package to Athena's family home when she was allegedly abducted, according to WFAA.
25 News will provide additional details when they become available.
ORIGINAL STORY
An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing child last seen outside Fort Worth.
Athena Strand, 7, was last seen at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the 200 block of County Road 3573, according to the Wise County Sheriff's Office.
She is described as being a white female, weighing 65 pounds and standing at 4 feet tall - with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Strand is also said to have pierced ears but no earrings and two red birthmarks on her lower back.
Officials said the missing child report was issued one hour after being unable to locate Strand.
The Wise County Sheriff's Office is working alongside the following agencies in their search for Strand.
- DPS
- the local Texas Ranger
- Bridgeport PD
- Fort Worth PD
- local fire departments
- Search Rescue One
Anyone with any information regarding Athena's whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office at 940-627-5971.
