As the punishment phase of Tanner Horner’s capital murder trial entered its second week in April 2026, Maitlyn Gandy, mother of 7-year-old Athena Presley Monroe Strand, shared a deeply moving public tribute to her daughter. Her words came amid emotional courtroom testimony, including the reading of Horner’s conflicting handwritten letters from jail — one expressing remorse to the victim’s family and another claiming he was forced by an armed older man.

In a heartfelt Facebook post that quickly spread online, Gandy reflected on the descriptions of Athena given by the Wise County District Attorney and her first-grade teacher the previous day in court. “That beautiful little girl, Athena Presley Monroe Strand, you all heard the Wise Co DA and her first grade teacher describe yesterday,” she wrote. “That’s my baby. She is as gorgeous as her daddy, but her talkative, wild, bold, independent spirit — that’s me. That’s the women of both sides of her family showing in her. That’s how I raise my daughters. Generation after generation of women in my family have had their own battles. We’ve all had to fight.”

Gandy emphasized her daughter’s resilient nature: “Athena may be dead but she was a fighter from her making and she gave life her all. She loved everyone, she loved life.” This portrayal gained even deeper significance in light of prosecutors’ accounts of Athena’s final moments on November 30, 2022. Testimony revealed that the brave 7-year-old fought back against her abductor, resisting even as Horner allegedly warned her not to scream. Forensic evidence showed she sustained multiple injuries while still alive and ultimately died from an asphyxial event, her body deprived of oxygen.

Horner, the 34-year-old former FedEx subcontractor driver, has already pleaded guilty to kidnapping and capital murder. The current phase of the trial in Fort Worth will determine whether he receives the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole. Jurors have heard Horner’s own writings, including a two-page letter to Athena’s family in which he says, “I’ve done a terrible thing to your family, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I took your little angel away from you. She didn’t deserve it. Ya’ll didn’t deserve it.” He attributed his actions in part to challenges with Asperger’s syndrome, unexpected changes in his delivery route, and personal struggles at home.

In stark contrast, a separate letter labeled “DETECTIVES ONLY!!!” tells a different version: Horner claims an older gray-haired man with a rifle was waiting for him at the Strand home, demanded his wallet, provided clothes for Athena, and threatened his family, forcing him to comply. He wrote that Athena seemed to recognize the stranger and calmed down in his presence. No evidence supporting this mystery man has been presented in court, and investigators maintain Horner acted alone.

Gandy has long channeled her grief into action. Following Athena’s abduction from their rural Wise County home while Horner was delivering a package, she became a vocal advocate for better safety measures in rural areas. Her efforts helped inspire the creation of the “Athena Alert,” a Texas-specific alert system for missing children, modeled after the AMBER Alert but tailored for similar circumstances. She has also pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against Horner, FedEx, and the contracting company, seeking accountability for how a driver with alleged issues was allowed to deliver near her doorstep.

In the days and years since the tragedy, Gandy has repeatedly expressed her determination to keep Athena’s memory alive. She has spoken of the “firsts” her family will forever miss — birthdays, holidays, and simple daily moments with a little girl described by those who knew her as energetic, talkative, and full of life. Courtroom observers noted Gandy crying during some of the graphic testimony, yet she continues to focus on honoring her daughter’s bold spirit rather than dwelling solely on the horror.

The trial has brought forward haunting details, including photos shown in court of Athena appearing alive and unharmed inside Horner’s FedEx truck as he drove away from the family home. Prosecutors have challenged Horner’s earlier claim that he accidentally struck the child with his van, arguing the evidence points to a deliberate and brutal crime.

For Maitlyn Gandy, the trial is another painful chapter in an unimaginable journey. Her tribute serves as both a celebration of Athena’s short but vibrant life and a reminder of the generational strength passed down through the women in her family. “We’ve all had to fight,” she wrote, connecting her own experiences and those of her ancestors to the fighting spirit she saw in her daughter.

The loss of Athena has left a lasting mark on Wise County and the broader community. Parents have become more vigilant about delivery drivers, doors are locked more often, and conversations about child safety in rural America have intensified. Gandy’s advocacy ensures that Athena’s name is associated not only with tragedy but with positive change through the Athena Alert and ongoing calls for improved protections.

As the jury continues to deliberate Horner’s fate, weighing the evidence, the conflicting letters, and the profound impact statements, Maitlyn Gandy’s words stand out as a beacon of maternal love and resilience. In a time when so much focus is on the defendant’s mental health claims and shifting stories, her message brings the focus back to the little girl whose light was taken too soon.

Athena may no longer be here to speak for herself, but through her mother’s courage and unwavering voice, her story continues to be told. She is remembered as the talkative, wild, bold, and fiercely independent child who loved life fully — a fighter from the very beginning who gave everything she had, right until the end.

No verdict can restore what was lost, but Maitlyn Gandy’s tribute ensures that Athena Presley Monroe Strand will live on in the hearts of those who hear her story, inspiring strength and the fight for justice long after the courtroom lights dim.