The mother of 7-year-old Athena Strand, who was killed after being abducted earlier this month, spoke on television to share her thoughts about the tragic experience.
Maitlyn Gandy appeared on WFAA, her hair the color Strand loved: pink.
She told WFAA that she did not think she would ever change her hair color again in light of her daughter’s death.
Police allege that Strand was killed by FedEx driver Tanner Horner, 31, who had just dropped off Strand’s Christmas present — a collection of Barbie dolls.
According to police, Horner allegedly confessed to accidentally hitting Strand with his truck when backing up and then, in a moment of panic, putting her in his truck before ultimately murdering her.
Horner is charged with capital murder, along with aggravated kidnapping, and could face the death penalty. Gandy believes that punishment would fit the crime.
“I support the death penalty,” Gandy said. “Every breath he takes is one my daughter doesn’t.”
Gandy described the moment when Sheriff Lane Akin first told her and Strand’s father the news of Athena’s death.
“I knew from the moment that Sheriff Akin walked in that he would tell me everything that I had felt that happened,” Gandy said. “It’s hard to look people in the face when you’re giving them the worst news of their life. So I knew when he walked into the room, and he was looking down. I remember feeling broken and empty, and I couldn’t breathe. It took my dad and the FBI trauma agent to help me start breathing again.”
Initially, Strand’s disappearance triggered an Amber Alert resulting in a large manhunt. Strand’s body was discovered two days later.
Thousands turned up at a memorial service in Paradise to mourn the loss of Strand, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Jacob Strand has filed a lawsuit against FedEx and one of its subcontractors responsible for hiring Horner, alleging bad practices that allow drivers who have committed rape, murder, and other crimes. Gandy has hired a legal team investigating the prospects for similar civil proceedings.
Gandy told WFAA she plans to start a foundation in Strand’s name to advocate on behalf of children.
When asked what she would tell Horner if she could, Gandy had a simple message.
“If I could sit down in front of him, I would tell him that he is nothing, but Athena is absolutely everything,” Gandy said. “And I will make sure that everybody in this world knows that.”
It was recently reported that Horner is facing unrelated charges of alleged sexual assault against a child, which date back to 2013.
The killing of Athena Strand has drawn attention to the broader crisis of violent crime in the metroplex. In addition to Gandy, many local residents have spoken out about the decline in public safety across DFW. The Dallas Express has reported extensively on the apparent failures of political authorities in combatting the rise in crime, especially within the city of Dallas.