The Wise County community of Paradise will gather to remember 7-year-old Athena Strand on Tuesday night.
The vigil comes as details from the investigation have emerged slowly.
NBC 5 has learned a Wise County judge sealed the arrest affidavit and court documents related to the arrest of Tanner Horner to give the family and the community time to process Strand’s death.
Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin announced Horner’s arrest Friday and said the contracted delivery driver confessed to kidnapping and killing Strand. Horner is being held on a $1.5 million bond.
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Outside the First Baptist Church of Cottondale on Tuesday, organizers prepared for a candlelight vigil to celebrate Strand’s life.
“My heart breaks every time I think of it,” said resident Cindy Hughs, who stopped to view a growing memorial outside the church. “We feel attached to her now.”
In the days since this community learned a delivery driver is accused of kidnapping and killing the 7-year-old, many have leaned on their faith and turned to Pastor Charles Pugh.
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Many parents have called him and asked to pray with them.
“There’s just a lot of dads and moms that knew the girl and realized it just as easily could have been there [child],” said Pugh. “Nobody did anything wrong. That’s what all the kids do out here. Play out in the yard. And everybody realizes it could have been their kid.”
Sheriff Akin said his investigators are still tying up a few loose ends, but have turned over their findings to the Wise County District Attorney’s Office. Part of the investigation focused on Horner’s background, but the sheriff said he had no prior criminal record, no connection to the family and his only tie to Wise County was that it was part of his regular delivery route.
A contracted delivery driver for FedEx, Akin said Horner was driving a marked truck equipped with GPS the night of Athena’s disappearance.
A married father of a one-year-old child, Horner shared in his own posts on social media previous jobs as an HVAC repairman and a ride-share driver.
A 2009 graduate of Azle High School, Horner also played in a band performing around Fort Worth.
"We can't get our mind around that someone could be evil enough to do something like that. You know it exists you've heard about it you've seen it on television but it's just been surreal," said Pugh.
Pugh said his focus remains on celebrating Athena Strand and showering her family with love.
“In the midst of their sorrow they have just been so thankful to us and the community and just expressed love back to us and I can’t imagine doing that with what they’re going through,” Pugh said.
Two candlelight vigils were held Tuesday evening in memory of Athena Strand.
Another vigil was held Tuesday evening at Cafe Republic at 8640 North Beach Street in Fort Worth.
