Athena Strand’s grieving mom shares tearful tribute, calls her a ‘fighter’ — as FedEx killer faces life in prison

A grieving mother in Texas paid a heartfelt tribute to her daughter, Athena Strand, who was tragically kidnapped and killed by a FedEx driver. This emotional moment came after the driver, Tanner Horner, pleaded guilty to the crime.

Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother, expressed her admiration for her 7-year-old daughter’s courage in a Facebook post, highlighting Athena’s brave spirit, which shone through even during her final moments against Horner in the distressing 2022 incident.

“That’s how I raise my daughters. Generation after generation of women in my family have had their own battles,” Gandy wrote.

“We’ve all had to fight. Athena may be dead but she was a fighter from her making and she gave life her all. She loved everyone, she loved life. She was bright, brave, and beautiful.”

In the opening statements at Tarrant County Court on Tuesday, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton described Athena as a “warrior.”

“She fought with the strength of 100 men,” he remarked about the young girl, who weighed just 67 pounds.

Lindsey Thompson, Athena’s first-grade teacher, also testified, portraying Athena as a “free spirit” and “true gem.”

“That beautiful little girl, Athena Presley Monroe Strand, you all heard the Wise Co DA and her first grade teacher describe yesterday,” Gandy wrote.

“That’s my baby. She is as gorgeous as her daddy, but her talkative, wild, bold, independent spirit — that’s me.”

Along with the touching message, Gandy shared a selfie with the front strands of her hair dyed pink, Athena’s favorite color.

Gandy did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping on Tuesday, and the case has now moved to the sentencing phase.

He faces either the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Horner admitted to strangling Athena in the back of his FedEx truck after arriving at her home to deliver a Christmas present.

Addressing the court, Stainton revealed that Horner might have also sexually assaulted Athena.

“We have DNA. Not only do we have initial DNA from Athena that has Tanner Horner’s DNA under her fingernails. We also have Tanner Horner’s DNA in places where you shouldn’t find DNA on a 7-year-old girl,” Stainton stated.

Horner then discarded Athena’s body in a creek near her home.

In a police interview shown in court on Thursday, Horner claimed his alter-ego “Zero” was responsible for the killing, not him.

His defense team argued that Horner suffers from mental illness and lead poisoning, hoping to avoid the death penalty.

Horner’s attorney did not immediately return The Post’s request for comment.