FedEx driver Tanner Horner has received a sentence for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand, as determined by a Texas jury.
Tanner Horner, aged 34, admitted to charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping on April 7, just prior to the start of his trial. He took Athena Strand from her father’s residence in Texas on November 30, 2022.
On that day, Horner had delivered a package meant as a Christmas present for the young girl, which included Barbie dolls. He subsequently strangled Athena inside his delivery truck and disposed of her body in a nearby wooded area.
The trial has been in progress for several weeks, showcasing disturbing evidence that reveals the events that transpired inside the delivery truck. Reports indicate that the footage was so distressing that jurors were observed in tears, while Athena’s family had to exit the courtroom.
On the first day of the trial, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton cautioned jurors about the graphic evidence they were about to witness.
“You’re going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child. And when I say it’s horrible, I mean it,” he informed the jury, as reported by the New York Post.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I assure you, brace yourselves.”
Kidnapping of Athena Strand
In the footage presented in court, Horner is seen lifting Athena into his truck before he gets into the driver’s seat and drives off. Inside the truck, Athena repeatedly inquires: “Are you a kidnapper?”
Instead of responding to her question, Horner shifts the conversation to topics like school and her teachers. At one moment, he says to her, “You’re really pretty. You know that?” as the truck seems to slow down.
“Is this your house?” Athena inquires of her captor.
“No. I don’t live around here,” Horner answers, adding that he resides “far away.”
“What are we doing?” the 7-year-old then questions.
“Just hanging out for a minute,” he replies.
Horner then requests Athena to remove her shirt, but the young girl declines, saying “no.” She starts calling for her mother, and soon after, her cries escalate into screams, accompanied by loud banging sounds coming from inside the truck.
Tanner Horner sentenced to death by lethal injection
Now, Tanner Horner has received a death sentence by lethal injection from a Texas jury. As reported by the New York Post, jurors took nearly three hours to deliberate after the closing arguments wrapped up on Tuesday. When the sentence was announced, Horner was said to have shown no emotion.
He also reportedly kept a blank face when Athena’s uncle, Elijah Strand, spoke to the court, stating: “You will be judged. You will face the wrath of God,” while pointing directly at Horner.
“But I want you to understand that you are insignificant. You are merely a footnote in Athena’s narrative,” he remarked. “Her name will always be remembered. Her name will always be honored.”
Her uncle struggled to hold back tears as he went on: “Everyone will forget you. You sought your 15 minutes of fame. You achieved it. And no one will recall you after this.”
Rest in peace, Athena.
