A Texas jury has sentenced FedEx driver Tanner Horner to death by lethal injection for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand. The verdict was delivered at a court in Fort Worth, Texas, about 40 miles southeast of where the girl's naked body was dumped in a creek on November 30, 2022.
Jury Deliberates and Delivers Verdict
Jurors deliberated for approximately three hours after closing arguments on Tuesday, May 5. Horner showed no emotion as the judge pronounced the death sentence, which will be carried out by lethal injection before sunrise on a future date.
Family Addresses the Killer
Athena's uncle, Elijah Strand, addressed the court directly, saying, 'You will be judged. You will face the wrath of God. But I want you to know that you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena's story. Her name will forever be remembered. Her name will be forever celebrated. Everyone will forget you. You wanted your 15 minutes of fame. You got it. And no one is going to remember you after this.' He fought back tears as he spoke. Athena's mother, with her hair dyed pink in her daughter's favorite color, also wiped away tears in the gallery.
Horner was rushed from the room shortly after the uncle finished speaking. His death sentence was automatically appealed, which is standard procedure for capital punishment in Texas.
Confession and Evidence
Horner confessed to the killing on the first day of his trial, claiming he accidentally hit Strand with his truck and then panicked, kidnapping her from outside her home in Paradise. He later strangled her to death while singing along to 'Jingle Bell Rock' on the radio. The jury was presented with harrowing evidence, including audio of the murder, photos of her abandoned clothes, and forensic testimony regarding DNA found on the girl's genitals.
Jurors sobbed as footage of the murder was played, and some courtroom viewers fled as the sounds of Athena being strangled filled the room. The clip began with Horner lifting Athena into his FedEx truck; the girl asked, 'Are you a kidnapper?' Horner did not answer but instead covered the truck's camera and said, 'You're really pretty. You know that?' The truck stopped, and Horner told Athena to remove her shirt. She said 'No' and began screaming for her mother. Horner slammed her into the truck floor, telling her, 'Shut up. If you don't shut up, I will hurt you worse.' As 'Jingle Bell Rock' played, Horner sang along while strangling her until she died.
Additional Victims and Google History
The jury also heard from two young women who claimed Horner raped them when they were underage and he was in his early 20s, as well as a man who lived with Horner as a child and made similar allegations. Although Horner denied sexually assaulting Athena, a forensic analyst revealed that his sperm cell DNA could not be excluded from the sexual assault kit. Horner's Google history, including a search asking whether FedEx truck cameras constantly record, was also presented.
Defense and Mitigation
Horner's defense focused on his mental health, arguing he is on the autism spectrum and has struggled with long-term mental illness. In a jail letter written before a suicide attempt in 2023, Horner blamed FedEx for switching his routes before the murder, claiming the change exacerbated his Asperger's Syndrome. He also blamed the crimes on an alter ego named 'Zero,' stating he thought the killing was a nightmare until he found Athena's pants in his backpack the next day. Horner was seen crying in a police interview about not being allowed to go home for Christmas with his young son.
Prosecutors pushed for the death penalty, describing Horner's actions as cold and calculated, and noted that he lied to investigators at every opportunity.
