Former FedEx Driver Sentenced to Death for Murdering 7-Year-Old Girl

A Texas jury has sentenced Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver, to death for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand. Horner, who admitted to the crime, displayed no reaction to his sentencing in Fort Worth on Tuesday. This incident occurred on November 30, 2022, when Strand’s body was found in a creek approximately 40 miles from the sentencing location.

At 34 years old, Horner was accused of kidnapping and strangling Athena after accidentally hitting her with his delivery van while dropping off Christmas gifts for her father in Paradise, Texas.

State District Judge George Gallagher indicated that the execution would occur “before the hour of sunrise” at a later date. He noted, “Punishment for the offense of capital murder is confined by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life or by death.” Gallagher emphasized the need for an impartial consideration of the evidence among jurors.

In a chilling moment, Horner merely responded with a “yes” when asked about appealing the death sentence.

During closing arguments, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton highlighted that offenders like Horner underline why Texas maintains the death penalty.

After the verdict, Jacob Strand, Athena’s uncle, addressed Horner directly. He shared a poignant memory of Athena running to him, calling him “Uncle Elijah.” He expressed that her loss had altered their family irrevocably, stating, “You did not just take a life, you destroyed a family.” He continued by affirming Athena’s essence, mentioning her laughter and dreams that would never be realized due to Horner’s actions.

Horner had confessed that he strangled Athena after she was hit by his van. He claimed that she didn’t suffer significant injury, which led him to panic and put her in his vehicle. The trial revealed harrowing evidence, including audio recordings of Athena’s murder and DNA evidence tied to Horner.

Some jurors even left the courtroom during the playback of disturbing audio, which included sounds of Athena being assaulted. Footage showcased Horner attempting to obscure the camera after Athena asked if he was a kidnapper. Evidence suggested he had previously searched online regarding the recording capabilities of FedEx trucks.

While denying any sexual assault, a forensic analysis indicated that Horner’s DNA was present among the collected evidence from Athena’s assault kit.

In his defense, Horner’s legal team argued about his mental health challenges, highlighting his autism and long history of mental health issues stemming from fetal alcohol syndrome. He described an alter ego named “Zero” and believed at one point that the incident was merely a bad dream until he discovered Athena’s clothing in his bag.

The circumstances of his crime grew even more complex with allegations of previous sexual assaults tied to him, dating back to 2013 and 2014.

Prosecutors described Horner’s conduct as calculated and manipulative, emphasizing that he misled investigators throughout the process.

The jury took nearly three hours to deliberate after 19 days of testimonies, officially concluding the case on a grim note for Athena’s family.