A recent police interview revealed that Tanner Horner, a violent FedEx driver, strangled 7-year-old Athena Strand and then made a shocking request to spend a month with his son over Christmas.
Video played for jurors on Thursday captured the 34-year-old driver attempting to negotiate with Texas authorities in exchange for information about the murder.
“I think, like, you have a list of things you want to know from me,” he told the investigators in footage recorded in November 2022.
“There’s only one thing I want in this world,” Horner reportedly stated. “I want one month.”
He described this request as his “compensation” for cooperating with the investigation.
“Even if everyone has to put ankle monitors, GPS monitors, and tests on me,” he continued, “if you give me a month with my family to spend Christmas with my son, I’ll tell you everything.”
However, police informed him that his request was likely impossible since he was under arrest for suspected child murder.
“That’s basically my price anyway,” Horner defiantly replied.
On November 30, 2022, he abducted Athena from her Lake Worth, Texas home while delivering Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift.
After strangling her in his truck, he callously disposed of her body in a wooded area nearby.
Initially, Horner lied to authorities, claiming he accidentally struck the girl with his truck and panicked, leading to her death.
Earlier this week, Horner pleaded guilty to murder, and a jury is now tasked with determining his sentence.
He faces potential penalties including the death sentence or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
