FedEx Driver Accused Of Killing 7-Year-Old Was Delivering Christmas Gift Of Barbie Dolls Before Allegedly Abducting Her

A FedEx driver accused of killing 7-year-old Athena Strand was said to be delivering a Christmas gift on the day she was reported missing by her stepmom, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Athena's mother, Maitlyn Gandy, said the suspect had driven onto the property of her father on November 30 to drop off the box of "You Can Be Anything" Barbie dolls.

"This is the package, and it's the first time I'm seeing it," said Gandy, fighting back tears while standing outside the Wise County Courthouse on Thursday, December 8.

Driver Tanner Lynn Horner told Texas police he strangled Athena out of fear she would tell her father he hit her with his delivery van, an arrest warrant obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram stated, claiming she was not seriously injured beforehand.

Her body was recovered two days later on December 2.

Records show that he faces charges of capital murder of a person under 10-years-old and aggravated kidnapping.

Prosecutors said if he is convicted, they will push for the death penalty.

FedEx expressed its condolences to the family, revealing "the employees of these service provider companies are subject to criminal history background checks as part of the driver eligibility process."

Horner reportedly does not have a prior record.

"She was an amazing little girl who loved singing, dancing and all animals. Dogs, horses, cats, lizards and chinchillas," Gandy shared. "Athena also loved flowers but she wasn't afraid to get down in the mud with the boys. She was her father's daughter."