Horrifying new photo shows Athena Strand, 7, being driven to her death by FedEx driver who abducted and strangled her while delivering her Barbie Christmas present

Daily Mail ^ | 4-7-26 | Natasha Anderson

[MarlonRando]

He snatched the youngster while delivering a Barbie to her home that was to be one of her main festive gifts. Horner told investigators that he accidentally hit the girl with his truck, 'panicked,' grabbed her, and put her in his vehicle.

Fearing what would happen if he told Strand's parents, he said strangled her inside the truck and dumped her body seven miles from her home, beside a country road. Her body was found two days later.

[pburgh01]

Some of you are such ghouls. Why post a story like this. Did you really need to know a local story about an absolute monster.

[Wayne07]

FWIW, I’m talking about the poster.. He is a dirtbag racist who just posts trash on the site.

[TexasGator]

“They also keep repeating that he hit her with the truck and panicked, as if it were true.”

THEY DO NOT! THEY DID’T EVEN SAY IT ONCE!

1. One time they say that HE SAID he hit her.

2. There NEXT sentence says the photo demolished his story.

[rlmorel]

"...Stupid racist strike again... It was a white guy.. Dumbass POS..."

I hear what you are saying, Wayne07, but I wouldn't be so harsh.

I think if you only see the first picture (as many of us do when we go to the Daily Mail website, and immediately remember why we don't go there-finding the image described turns into a scrolling expedition) the Freeper can be somewhat excused. Here is the picture:

When I saw that black and white photo, it appeared to be, by all physical features, a black male. I understand marlonrando's error. It barely looks like the mug shot posted below.

I would classify it as an honest, yet embarrassing error.

[spetznaz]

Whatever the race (and the murdering sob is White, but that’s not important), what happened was still the murder of an innocent. I fully understand the race sensitivities of America. In fact, I find them quite interesting as someone who was not born here, and, ironically, there is little love lost between Africans in the States (we tend to be highly educated, law abiding, etc etc on average) and African Americans. I do understand some of the sensitivities, and that there are multiple examples of black criminals harming white victims and the media keeps quiet. So, I do get your point (notwithstanding the perp is white). Right now though I just feel horrible because a lovely young girl (no matter her race) was murdered by a horrible monster (no matter his race). Very sad.

[rlmorel]

By the way, I can't comment on the posting history. You may be right. All I know is, when I went to the Daily Mail website and began scrolling down, that was the first picture, and I could understand that error given the nature of the picture.

And the Daily Mail, while sometimes appreciated by Americans because it tells the story our media avoids, does, IMO, deliberately fan the flames of racist discord. I can't say if posting that as the first picture the way they did is meant to do that, but I cannot rule it out.

[angcat]

She does not look injured? He said he hit her? I assume that was a lie.

[rlmorel]

I would assume that is a lie as well. She looks like he invited her in and offered to drive her around the block or something like that, which she may have innocently accepted. Does not appear injured, coerced, or afraid in any way.

[SunkenCiv]

/bingo

[mbrfl]

Lethal injection is too good for this sick bastard.

[rlmorel]

Wrenched my heart and made me think many un-Christian, terrible fates for the perpetrator. Evil.

He is probably a regular driver, often dropping things at her house and the two probably chatted many times as he took stuff to the front door.

I have to stop thinking about it. I saw what looked like a jump rope behind her in that truck, and I cannot speak aloud what I think should happen to him. It made my heart lurch.

[rlmorel]

"...The defense, however, pointed to Horner's physical and mental illnesses in their opening remarks.

They told the jury how he was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at a young age and was exposed to lead during his developmental years.

'You don't have to be a scientist or doctor to know that lead has terrible effects on the brain,' defense attorney Steven Goble told the court..."

I know every defendant has a right to a defense, but there seems something evil about this angle.

[Drew68]

I understand your point but if you scroll down the killer is white. The first photo is tinted.

Indeed he is.

There have always been white monsters. Sometimes we forget this.

The difference, of course, is that nobody in the white community goes to bat for these guys. Nobody is making excuses. The sentiments will unanimously be, "wood chipper, feet first."

And while blacks who murder whites generally have no trouble in prison, this guy will serve serious hard time, if he even survives his sentence.

[Vaduz]

Amen

The mad animal needs to face the same to know what he did.

[Revel]

They waited until almost halfway through the article to tell us this happened in Texas. In any case the perp needs the death penalty.

[Williams]

Wrong it says it directly under one of the photos for example.

[ronniesgal]

I agree I thought the guy was black.

[Mr. K]

If I was her family I would announce in court that there is a bounty of $1000 for every individual piece of his body

[Diana in Wisconsin]

In Wisconsin prisons, that is known as being ‘Dahmerized.’

Works every time it’s tried. ;)

[AAABEST]

The look on her face. The little girl knows something is wrong.