Athena Strand's mother posts heartbreaking video showing murdered 7-year-old's sister crying

The mother of seven-year-old Athena Strand - who was murdered after being kidnapped by FedEx driver Tanner Lynn Horner last week - has paid tribute to her daughter in a series of heart wrenching Facebook posts. 

On Tuesday, Maitlyn Gandy shared a video showing her younger daughter, Rye, crying for her 'sissy' after Strand had gone to spend time with her father and stepmother in Paradise, Texas, prior to the holidays. 

Athena was due to return to her mother and sister in Comanche, Oklahoma, for Christmas. 

The video was recorded on November 27, little Athena was first reported missing on November 30 and she was found dead on December 2. 

Gandy says that the video shows Rye 'begging for her sissy.' 

She says: 'I kept telling her "It's okay, we will see sissy soon." Not knowing how twisted our lives would become. I took it because she does this anytime she thinks sissy is going somewhere without her.'

Eventually, Gandy says, Rye cried herself to sleep. The grieving mother continued: 'This monster has now extended those feelings for my youngest daughter indefinitely.' 

Athena pictured with her younger sister, Rye, according to the pair's mother, they hated to be apart from each other 

Athena's mother posted the video alongside this heartbreaking Facebook post 

To calm her daughter, Gandy would say: 'It's okay, we will see sissy soon.' Just three days later, Athena would be reported missing 

In another post, Gandy wrote: 'Daddy and mommy were scared of how beautiful she has always been and we feel like we failed you. No one deserves what happened to you, but especially you. I love you and love doesn’t even cover it. Mommy is broken without you.'

She also described her angel as 'innocent, beautiful, kid, intelligent and just the brightest, happiest soul you could ever meet.' 

Gandy continued: 'I don’t want her to be the girl known as the one murdered and discarded by a monster. I want everyone to know, every single person in this world, that this is my baby and my baby was taken from me.'

31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner is facing charges of aggravated murder and kidnapping in the case. He is being held on a bond of $1.5 million at Wise County Jail. 

Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, confessed to police to abducting and killing Athena on Wednesday afternoon

Horner is being held at Wise County Jail on charges of aggravated murder and kidnapping 

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin has described the murder as a 'crime of opportunity.' 

Horner snatched Athena Strand from the driveway of her family home in Paradise, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon, and she was found dead 10 miles away on Friday. Police said she was likely killed within an hour of her kidnapping. 

On Monday, residents in Texas, as well as those in Comanche, Oklahoma, were asked to wear pink in celebration of Athena's life. Pink was the 1st grader's favorite color. 

The request in Wise County came from local judge J.D. Clark who said: 'My heart is so heavy about Athena. Additionally, I encourage everyone to join me at 6:30pm on Monday on the Courthouse steps to pray for Athena, her family, our first responders and our community.'

Hundreds gather for the vigil to celebrate Athena's life in Wise County on Monday night

Athena Strand pictured with her mother Maitlyn Gandy. Gandy wrote on Facebook: 'Athena is innocent, beautiful, kind, intelligent, and just the brightest happiest soul you could ever meet

At the vigil, local resident Kayla McConnell told WFAA: 'In a small town like this, you don't think of anything like this ever. Nothing compares to the pain that [the family is] going through. But this entire community has felt this. And we're all there with them. And we will support them and we will remember Athena every time we even see pink.' 

On the day of the celebration, Gandy wrote on Facebook: 'Athena wore pink today too in my mind.'

She added: 'I love seeing all of the pictures of everyone in pink from pinned on ribbons and hearts, t-shirts and full pink outfits.' 

Gandy continued: 'I drove around a bit today, everywhere I looked, I saw shades of pink. I’ve had tears, it’s a bittersweet feeling seeing all of the support for Athena’s legacy. 

She concluded: 'I cannot thank everyone enough, but I hope y’all know, I see you and so does my Athena. I have to believe that or I will break. Athena sees us. And I see Athena in all of you.' 

Gandy wrote: 'I cannot describe the pain and absolute anger I feel. Missing her doesn't cover how I feel'

Authorities were only able to connect the dots between Athena's disappearance and Horner's delivery route following a tip-off 

Police connected Horner to the killing based on a tip-off and his FedEx delivery route that day. 

Horner confessed shortly after being apprehended and now faces capital murder and aggravated kidnapping charges. 

He is the only suspect authorities believe is responsible in the case, Sheriff Akin said. He did not have any connection to the family.

Athena's grandfather, Mark Strand, said on Facebook despite part of him wanting 'five minutes alone in a cell' with 31-year-old Tanner Horner, he decided to listen to another part that told him forgiveness was the only way for him and his family to recover. 

'This man I am is angry, and I want five minutes alone in a cell with the psycho that took our Athena away from us, but there's a soft, gentle voice in the back of my head telling me I need to forgive him,' he wrote in an emotional Facebook post.

'If I allow this hate to consume me, that voice will fade and eventually be silenced. Then that ugly spirit of hate will have succeeded and that's why this gentle voice persists to tell me I need to forgive this man.

Mark Strand wrote that despite part of him wanting 'five 5 minutes alone in a cell' with 31-year-old Tanner Horner, who abducted and killed his seven-year-old granddaughter Athena, he decided to listen to another part that told him forgiveness was the only way for him and his family to recover

According to the Wise County Sheriff's Office, the child was dropped off at home from school at her home in Paradise at 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The youngster was outside her home after an argument with her stepmother when Horner delivered a FedEx package to their house.

When Athena didn't come back inside and could not be found in her bedroom, her stepmother reported her missing to police at about 6.40pm.

Police believe the girl was likely abducted from her driveway, just 200 yards away from the safety of her home.

FedEx released a statement on Friday night expressing their condolences to the family: 'Words cannot describe our shock at the reports surrounding this tragic event. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family during this most difficult time.'