Tanner Horner former FedEx driver pleads guilty to kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Texas girl, Athena Strand who he was meant to be delivering a Christmas present for. The plea comes just hours before trial was to begin with the prosecution sharing a photo of the girl alive in the van after Horner previously saying he ‘accidentally’ hit the girl, killing her and then placing her in the van. The former delivery driver now faces potential death penalty as defense argues for life in prison.
A former FedEx driver in Texas has pleaded guilty in connection with the kidnapping and death of a 7-year-old child, who he was meant to be delivering a Barbie doll Christmas present.
Tanner Horner entered a plea before his trial was scheduled to begin on Tuesday. The case moved directly into the sentencing phase, where jurors will now decide whether he should face the death penalty.
Former FedEx driver pleads guilty to kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Texas girl, Athena Strand
Arrest affidavits show Horner telling investigators he killed Athena Strand in Wise County in December 2022 because he accidentally struck her with his delivery truck and was afraid she would tell someone.
Horner delivered packages for FedEx but worked for a subcontractor.
Horner told investigators that Athena did not appear seriously injured but said he panicked, placed her into his van and strangled her out of fear that she would tell her father what had happened.
Horner was subsequently tracked down through digital evidence that day.
Two days later, Strand’s body was found about 9 miles away from her home, southeast of Boyd.
Horner was indicted on Feb. 16, 2023, for aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a person under the age of 10.
Prosecution alleges FedEx driver lying about 7-year-old girl already being dead when he placed her in van
Wise County District Attorney James Stainton previously said he intended to seek the death penalty. Horner originally pleaded not guilty to aggravated kidnapping and capital murder in 2023.
Horner, in the end, pleaded guilty to two counts: capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.
Under Texas law, capital murder of a person under ten years old qualifies Horner for the death penalty.
Prosecutors proceeded with sharing a photo of an Athena taken inside the FedEx as she was unwittingly being driven to her death. In the black and white photo, the 7-year-old, seen standing upright appears concerned as Horner concentrated on the road in front of him.
Less than a few hours later the girl would be strangled to death, her body dumped by a lake. The photo seemingly contradicted the defense’s claims that Horner had ‘accidentally’ struck the girl and proceeded to drive off with her body.
Horner had previously claimed Athena wasn’t alive when he put her in the truck.
‘That is an absolute lie. There is no truth to that in any form or fashion. None. Zero. ZIP. Not of nudge. No truth to that whatsoever,’ Wise County District Attorney James Stainton told the jury.
‘I’ll tell you right now, you’re going to see right up front here. She was very much alive and very much uninjured when he put her in the truck,’ the prosecutor added.
The prosecution argued that Horner’s actions were premeditated because he ensured he had the same FedEx truck each day. They also noted that Strand’s body was found in water at BoBo Crossing in Wise County.
7-year-old girl’s former stepmother testimony
Horner’s defense team responded with their case, saying that his parents struggled with substance abuse; Horner’s mother, they noted, also worked as a stripper until he was born. They also said Horner, who lives with autism and had a history of mental illness, lacked access to services until he turned 18 years old. Horner was also reportedly exposed to high lead levels.
The defense also claimed Tanner was expected to ‘push through’ to succeed, but did not. They also asked the jury to fully consider the evidence and asked for a life sentence without parole.
The prosecution during the sentencing phase called to the stand Athena’s stepmother; Elizabeth Ashley Strand. During testimony Ashley said Athena’s killing affected the family; she and Jacob (Athena’s father) are no longer married, and that her daughter now runs and hides if she sees delivery drivers. Ashley said her daughter also has nightmares and has seen, at age 14, impacts to her education.
‘I’m not the same. I don’t trust anybody,’ Ashley said of herself through tears.
Strand’s father launched legal action against FedEx in 2022, claiming they did not carry out sufficient background checks before hiring Horner.
A one-hour lunch was called at 12:45 p.m. as the sentencing phase of the case continues.
