Jacob Strand, father of Athena Strand, the 7-year-old woman who was kidnapped and strangled by a FedEx driver outdoors of Dallas in November, has launched 1,000,000 greenback lawsuit towards the supply firm and the suspect, Tanner Horner.
Strand vanished from her father’s house in Clever County on November 30, her physique was recovered two days later. Horner, 31, advised investigators that he by chance hit Strand together with his truck, ‘panicked,’ after which lastly, he strangled her to dying.
Within the new lawsuit, Jacob Strand additionally names the contractor employed by FedEx that employed Horner, Huge Topspin.
One part of the lawsuit alleges that FedEx put ‘harmful individuals able of belief’ although Horner wasn’t employed straight by the packaging big. One other part accuses FedEx of getting ‘vital management’ of people that come to their buyer’s houses.
Jacob Strand, father of Athena Strand, the 7-year-old woman who was kidnapped and strangled by a FedEx driver outdoors of Dallas in November, has launched 1,000,000 greenback lawsuit towards the supply firm
Jacob Strand argues that neither FedEx nor Huge Topspin ran a correct background test on the suspect. He has no identified legal historical past.
Huge Topspin serves the realm the place Strand was final seen, the van pushed by the suspect is owned by FedEx and the suspect was approved to put on the corporate’s uniform, the lawsuit says.
A press release on Strand’s employment from FedEx learn: ‘The staff of those service supplier corporations are topic to legal historical past background checks as a part of the driving force eligibility course of.’
The press launch continued: ‘As is widespread throughout the trade and thought of normal employment follow, the background test course of is run by a 3rd celebration.’
Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, advised investigators that Athena Strand wasn’t significantly damage after he hit her whereas backing up, however he panicked and put her in his van. He stated she was speaking to him and advised him her title
The younger woman’s physique was discovered simply six miles from the place she was taken
The slain woman’s household is searching for over $1 million in harm. In a quick assertion, FedEx stated that they had been of the swimsuit including: ‘Our ideas stay with the household of Athena Strand within the wake of this tragedy.’
Along with the cash, Jacob Strand’s desires the lawsuit to be determined by a jury trial in Clever County District Court docket.
Horner is going through costs of capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping. He’s being held on a $1.5 million bail.
Athena Strand’s funeral was held on December 9.
The lawsuit mentions different legal instances involving FedEx drivers together with the case of a New York-based driver who killed a girl after which burned her house to the bottom.
One part reads: ‘FedEx has continued their regular enterprise operations though it’s clear that their present efforts, if any, to make sure, that they aren’t placing harmful individuals able of belief carrying FedEx uniforms, driving FedEx branded autos and sending them to the doorsteps of the houses of almost each individual in America is woefully insufficient to keep away from endangering the general public.’
Strand’s mom, Maitlyn Gandy, has employed a personal authorized workforce to analyze the circumstances round her daughter’s dying. She has beforehand known as supply staff to be pressured to fulfill excessive requirements, in response to the Dallas Morning Information.
Horner, 31, confessed to police to abducting and killing Athena Strand, 7, Wednesday afternoon. Authorities at the moment are searching for the dying penalty in his case
Horner earlier advised investigators that Strand wasn’t significantly damage after he hit her whereas backing up, however he panicked and put her in his van. He stated she was speaking to him and advised him her title, in response to an affidavit.
However Horner stated he didn’t need her to inform her father what occurred, so he first tried to interrupt the woman’s neck and when that didn’t work he strangled her together with his palms at the back of the van, the warrant stated. The warrant stated Horner took investigators to the place he’d left Athena’s physique.
The affidavit additionally revealed that Horner’s FedEx truck was outfitted with a video digicam. Feeds from the video confirmed Horner bringing a woman resembling Athena into the truck.
Horner may very well be seen talking with woman contained in the truck within the video. It’s unclear if he may very well be seen attacking her within the footage.
The affidavit describes in horrifying element how Horner murdered the seven-year-old in chilly blood.
Maitlyn Gandy — the mom of Athena Strand — advised how Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, was delivering a Christmas current for her daughter when he allegedly kidnapped and killed her
‘The defendant acknowledged when he tried to interrupt Athen’s neck it didn’t work so he strangled her together with his naked palms at the back of the FedEx truck.’
‘In the course of the course of the interview the Defendant once more acknowledged he strangled Athena as a result of she was going to inform her father about being hit by the FedEx truck the Defendant was working.’
At a information convention final week, Maitlyn Gandy advised how Horner, was delivering a You Can Be Something Barbie to Strand’s father and stepmother’s home in Paradise, Texas, final Wednesday when he allegedly snatched the younger woman and killed her.
‘This bundle is the primary time I am seeing it,’ Gandy stated of the now-opened Walmart field, as she defined that the Barbie dolls had been set to be a Christmas current for her daughter.
‘Athena was robbed of the chance to develop as much as be something she wished to be — and this current, ordered out of innocence and love, is one she is going to by no means obtain.’
Texas authorities stated Horner’s case is scheduled to be turned over to the district legal professional subsequent week.
Within the meantime, the Clever County Sheriff’s Workplace will proceed to follow-up on suggestions they obtain from the general public to allow them to construct an air-tight case towards him.
‘Due to the age of the kid, and since it was an abduction, we’re going to pursue the dying penalty,’ Sheriff Lane Atkin advised WFAA.
Gandy vowed she is going to proceed to hunt justice for her daughter.
‘I’ll spend the remainder of my life preventing for her in order that no different household will endure such insufferable ache and grief,’ she stated.
‘A monster tried to take Athena’s voice — however we’re her voice,’ Gandy advised reporters Thursday, including: ‘Screening and hiring insurance policies should be put into place in order that monsters carrying supply uniforms do not present up on our youngsters’s footsteps.’
