FedEx Driver Kidnaps 7 Yr Old Girl After Delivering Her Barbies Then SA's Her In Back of The Van
YouTube · 9fU2kgu-rY0
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Tanner Her, a 35-year-old FedEx contract driver, kidnapped 7-year-old Athena Strand in Paradise, Texas, in 2022.
- ❖Athena went missing after a package of Barbies was delivered to her home, prompting a large-scale search.
- ❖Her initially claimed he had a nightmare about the kidnapping and found Athena's pants in his backpack, suggesting he was framed.
- ❖He provided multiple conflicting accounts to investigators, including an old green van, an accidental hit-and-run, and an alter ego named 'Zero' who committed the crime.
- ❖Evidence showed Her covered FedEx truck cameras days before the incident, indicating premeditation.
- ❖Dashcam footage and audio revealed Athena alive in the truck, her screams, and Her singing Christmas music during the assault.
- ❖Forensic evidence confirmed sexual assault and strangulation, with Her's DNA found on Athena and her body discovered in a creek.
- ❖Her's defense attempted to use lead poisoning, autism, prenatal alcohol exposure, and a troubled childhood as mitigating factors against the death penalty.
- ❖His attempts to portray an alter ego ('Zero') were described by investigators and the host as an unconvincing, theatrical performance.
- ❖Her showed a profound lack of remorse, complaining about jail conditions and asking for a month off to spend Christmas with his son after admitting to murder.
- ❖He was charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to death in Texas.
Insights
1Initial Disappearance and Search Efforts
Seven-year-old Athena Strand went missing from her rural Paradise, Texas home on six acres of land. Her stepmother, Ashley, reported her missing after Athena failed to complete her chores. Initial search efforts involved hundreds of volunteers, thermal imaging aircraft, and K9 units, with the prevailing belief that Athena had simply wandered off or gotten lost in the vast property. However, K9s circling the main house and cutting off scent trails suggested she had been removed from the property.
Athena's stepmom Ashley reported her missing around PM. Over 300 civilian volunteers, dogs, horses, and four-wheelers participated in the search. Thermal imaging found no human heat signatures. K9 units repeatedly circled the main house and then lost the scent, indicating she was not lost on the property.
2Discovery of the FedEx Driver and Inconsistent Alibis
The only new item on the property was a Walmart delivery containing Athena's Christmas Barbies. Investigators quickly focused on the delivery driver, Tanner Her, a contractor for FedEx. Her's delivery log showed a 30-minute discrepancy around the time of the delivery, and he initially claimed he was sick and threw up at a truck stop. He later concocted multiple, contradictory stories, including a green van man, an accidental hit-and-run, and an alter ego named 'Zero' responsible for the crime.
The FBI contacted FedEx, who identified Tanner Her from third-party contractor Big Top Spin. Her's delivery record showed a 30-minute gap after Athena's delivery (). He initially claimed he was sick (). Later, he described a suspicious 'green Chevy Astro van' () and then claimed he accidentally hit Athena with his truck ().
3Forensic Evidence and Audio Confession
Despite Her's shifting narratives, irrefutable evidence emerged. He had covered FedEx truck cameras with sticky notes days before the kidnapping, though audio recordings continued. These recordings, along with DNA evidence, confirmed Athena was sexually assaulted and strangled in the van. Her's body was found two days later in Bobo Crossing creek. The audio footage of Athena's murder was played in court, causing extreme distress to the jurors.
Her covered FedEx truck cameras with sticky notes days before the incident (). Dashcam stills showed Athena alive in the truck (). DNA evidence from vaginal and anal swabs, blood, and semen on Her's clothing confirmed sexual assault (). Athena's body was found submerged in 3 feet of water in Bobo Crossing creek (). The audio footage revealed Athena's screams, gagging noises, and Her singing Christmas music ().
4Defense Arguments and Lack of Remorse
During the sentencing phase, Her's defense presented mitigating factors, including high levels of lead poisoning from eating coins as a child, autism spectrum disorder, prenatal alcohol exposure, and a troubled childhood. They argued these factors reduced his 'moral blameworthiness.' However, Her's demeanor throughout interrogations and trial, marked by self-pity, inappropriate jokes, and a focus on his own inconvenience, demonstrated a profound lack of remorse.
A doctor testified Her had 33,000 micrograms of lead in his body, 24 times the average for his age (). His mother testified to heavy alcohol use during pregnancy (). Her's defense argued autism 'reduces his moral blameworthiness' (). Investigators noted his 'cool, calm demeanor,' joking, and inappropriate comments (). He asked for a month of freedom to spend Christmas with his son after admitting to murder ().
Lessons
- Parents should be aware of the potential risks associated with delivery services, especially in rural areas, and ensure children are supervised when packages are delivered.
- Communities can organize and support families affected by child abductions, as demonstrated by the 'Pink Out' days and donations for Athena Strand.
- Law enforcement agencies should leverage all available digital and forensic tools, such as dashcam footage, cell tower data, and DNA analysis, to quickly and accurately investigate missing persons cases.
Quotes
"Sometimes the scary part is not the dream itself, but what happens when you wake up?"
"I asked him if I could confirm that that was my daughter and he told me no because she looks too bad."
"You're going to hear what a 250 lb man can do to a 67-lb child."
"I will be her face and I will be her voice and I will make sure every person in the world knows."
"It is therefore the order of this court that your punishment be death before the hour of sunrise on a date to be determined by this court. You will be caused to die in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice until you said Tanner Her dead."
Q&A
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