FedEx Driver Sentenced to Death for Murder of 7-Year-Old
A Texas jury has handed down a death sentence to former FedEx driver Tanner Horner, who confessed to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand. The verdict was delivered in Fort Worth, Texas, which is about 40 miles from where Athena’s body was discovered in a creek on November 30, 2022.
Horner, who is 34, was charged with kidnapping and strangling the girl after unintentionally striking her with his delivery van while making a Christmas delivery to her father’s home in Paradise, Texas.
During the sentencing, Horner displayed no emotional response, merely acknowledging with a “yes” when asked if he would appeal the decision, as reported by the New York Post.
“Punishment for the offense of capital murder is confined by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life or by death,” stated State District Judge George Gallagher. He emphasized the importance of jurors making an impartial decision based on the evidence presented.
In his closing remarks, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton pointed out that individuals like Horner are the reason Texas maintains the death penalty.
Athena’s uncle, Jacob Strand, spoke passionately to Horner after the verdict, recalling joyous memories of Athena and expressing the deep impact of her loss on the family.
“You did not just take a life; you destroyed a family,” Strand said, adding that Horner would face divine judgment for his actions. He highlighted that Athena was not just a name in a news story but a vibrant child full of dreams and kindness.
Horner had initially claimed that he strangled Athena out of panic after hitting her with the van. Disturbing evidence presented during the trial included audio recordings of her murder and testimony about DNA found at the scene. Some jurors reportedly left the room as the chilling audio played.
The evidence detailed that Horner had previously searched online about the recording capabilities of security cameras in FedEx trucks, adding a layer of premeditation to the case. He expressed erratic behavior, even during police interviews, where he was found crying over the holiday separation from his son.
As the trial unfolded over 19 days and nearly three hours of jury deliberation, prosecutors argued for the death penalty based on the calculated nature of Horner’s actions and his deceit during the investigation. Additionally, shortly after his arrest for murder, Horner faced further charges related to sexual assault from incidents in the past.
