FedEx driver Tanner Lynn Horner reportedly confessed to the murder of Texas schoolgirl Athena Stroud (Photo: AP)

A FedEx driver has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a missing seven-year-old schoolgirl, authorities have confirmed.

Texas police said 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner confessed to kidnapping and killing Athena Stroud and telling them where to find her body.

County Sheriff Lane Akin said a tip led her to Horner, who delivered to the girl’s home shortly before she disappeared.

She was probably abducted from her driveway about 200 meters from the house around 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Horner did not know the girl’s family, according to Mr Akin, who declined to discuss a motive for the crime.

The girl’s stepmother reported her missing from her childhood home near Paradise on the northwestern edge of Dallas-Fort Worth.

The body of a missing 7-year-old girl was recovered Friday night after authorities said a FedEx driver abducted her two days earlier. Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, was arrested Friday afternoon on capital murder and aggravated kidnapping charges in connection with the death of Athena Strand. It was unclear if he had a lawyer; Authorities said he made a confession but did not go into details.

Athena Stroud, 7, was kidnapped from her driveway and found dead two days later (Image: AP)

This undated photograph from the Wise County Sheriff's Office shows Tanner Lynn Horner. Horner, 31, was arrested on Friday, December 2, 2022 for kidnapping and murder after confessing to killing a 7-year-old girl from Texas and telling authorities where to find her body, according to Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin. The girl's stepmother reported her missing Wednesday from her childhood home near Paradise, Texas. (Wise County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Delivery driver Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, has been arrested in connection with her murder (Image: AP)

Athena reportedly left the house after an argument with her stepmother, who searched for her for “about an hour” before calling the police.

“The stepmother went to make dinner, came back to get Athena, and Athena wasn’t in her room,” Mr. Akin said.

Her body was later found near the town of Boyd, about six miles southeast of Paradise, a small Texas town with a population of about 475, Mr Akin said.

Detectives believe Athena died within an hour of her abduction and described her murder as a “crime of opportunity”.

“We really can’t go into the contents of the confession, but I will say we have a confession,” the sheriff added.

FedEx said in a statement that it is cooperating with law enforcement agencies investigating the matter.

“Our thoughts are with Athena Strand’s family at this very difficult time,” the statement said. “Words cannot describe our shock and sadness at this tragic event.”

The sheriff said Athena’s family was “devastated,” adding, “They are angry about what happened. Precious child taken from her life.”

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