Texas is changing its AMBER Alert system after police failed to issue an alert for Athena Strand’s kidnapping

The state of Texas appears to be planning to change its AMBER Alert system after it failed to help Athena Strand, a 7-year-old girl who was kidnapped and strangled last November.

Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, was arrested and charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in Strand’s death and is currently being held at the Wise County Jail on $1.5 million bail as prosecutors seek the death penalty.

Lone Star State lawmakers voted Wednesday to approve a new version of the state’s AMBER Alert system, dubbed “the Athena Alert Bill,” under the leadership of State Representative Lynn Stucky.

The new law allows authorities to notify people within 100 miles of a missing child as soon as they are reported missing.

At the time of Strand’s disappearance, she did not meet the state’s criteria for a warning, which included a preliminary investigation and law enforcement determining that the child is in “imminent danger.”

Athena’s mother, Maitlyn Gandy, testified for the law and believes it could have saved her daughter’s life.

“Had this been an alarm when my daughter disappeared, I have no doubt the Wise County Sheriff’s Office would have triggered it,” Gandy said in a statement after the bill passed.

“Unfortunately, their hands were tied because my daughter’s disappearance did not immediately meet the strict criteria for a statewide AMBER alert. It was a helpless feeling I wouldn’t wish on any parent. I hope every state will follow Texas’ example and change the law so that no other parent has to wait when their child goes missing.”

Wise County Sheriff Lane Aiken credited both Gandy and State Representative Lynn Stucky’s efforts to pass the bill.

“With its passage, the police will be able to make a local decision and send an alert that can help bring a child home to his parents,” Akin said. HuffPo.

“Hopefully we never have to make that decision, but if it happens again and if it does, we have an extra tool to help us find a missing child.”

The law must be signed by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott before it can take effect.

Horner filed a not guilty plea in March in Wise County. District Attorney James Stainton filed court documents in federal court informing the judge that he will seek the death penalty against Horner if found guilty of murder.

Horner was arrested on December 2, 2022, the same day Athena’s body was found.

He confessed to police that he accidentally hit Strand with his van while delivering Christmas presents to the house. He then panicked and put the little girl in his vehicle and strangled her to death.

According to an autopsy, Strand had blunt injuries to her head and neck and signs of asphyxia and strangulation. Her death was ruled a homicide.

On February 17, a jury in Wise County formally charged Horner with kidnapping and murdering the young girl.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against Horner.

Horner was charged with sexually assaulting a child nearly a decade ago and faces three additional counts of child sexual abuse in Fort Worth in 2013. He is being held in jail on $1.5 million bail.

Athena’s father, Jacob Strand, has taken legal action against FedEx, claiming they did not conduct sufficient background checks before hiring Horner.

“I am for the death penalty. In any sentence,’ said Gandy WFAA.

“Every breath he takes, my daughter doesn’t.

Gandy previously said she wished he had just driven off and let her daughter walk.

“We’re very forgiving people,” she said.

“If Athena hadn’t been injured or even had a few bumps and scrapes, he could have just driven off. We could have forgiven him.

“Accidents happen, but he chose to do more — and what he did was unforgivable.

“It’s hard for me to believe Athena couldn’t run away. Athena could have just walked away, and I wish he’d let her.’

According to the arrest affidavit, Horner said Strand was not seriously injured when he hit her with his van.

Gandy says she is still grieving for her daughter as she tries to take care of her other young child, Rilyn.

“I check my doors three times every night and hold my three-year-old tighter. I’m afraid to let her go. Everything is just very, very scary and very, very sad,’ Gandy said, tears in his eyes.

“It’s been tough for our family. For my other three year old. She doesn’t understand why she can’t call her “sissy” or why she hasn’t come home yet. It takes a long time for her to leave without seeing her sister,” she explains.

‘We’ll make it. We try to function. That was a long time ago. Difficult but very chaotic at the same time.

‘I am sad. I am angry. I am confused. I’m trying my best.

‘I’ve been very scared and I don’t sleep often or for a long time. Sounds at night scare me.’