Tanner Horner, 34, a former FedEx driver, kidnapped seven-year-old Athena Strand in his supply truck and brutally murdered her in Texas in November 2022
The FedEx driver who kidnapped and murdered a seven-year-old woman has been sentenced to dying for his appalling crimes.
Tanner Horner, 34, was delivering parcels to Athena Strand’s household residence in Paradise, Texas in November 2022 earlier than he snatched her into his lorry and slammed the door shut.
Athena fought for her life behind his automobile earlier than he savagely took her life.
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He pleaded responsible on April 7 to capital homicide and aggravated kidnapping.
The jury deliberated for 2 hours and 50 minutes earlier than reaching their verdict on whether or not Horner ought to face execution.
When the ruling was introduced on Tuesday, Could 5, Horner confirmed no emotion in any respect.
Following the sentencing, Athena’s uncle Elijah Strand confronted her killer immediately, declaring: “I need you to know that you’re nothing.
“You’re a footnote in Athena’s story.
“Her identify will ceaselessly be remembered.
“Her identify will ceaselessly be celebrated and everybody will overlook you.”
Her uncle additional acknowledged that no phrases might adequately convey the devastation wrought upon all those that cherished Athena.
His actions had irrevocably altered who they’re as a household and their religion on the earth.
“Athena was greater than a headline.
“She was laughter, curiosity, kindness,” Strand stated.
Horner was heard in clips calling Athena ‘sweetie’ (Picture: Household Handout)
“And she or he had desires that she’s going to by no means get to chase.
“Birthdays that she’s going to by no means have fun in a life she’ll by no means get to dwell due to his actions.
“Our household has been left with an vacancy that may by no means be crammed.
“We’re left to hold grief that by no means fades.
“We’re left with questions that can nonetheless by no means have solutions.
“And we’re left attempting to honour the attractive little woman whose life was taken in probably the most mindless and horrific means.”
Throughout Tuesday’s courtroom proceedings, Clever County District Lawyer James Stainton described seven-year-old Athena as a ‘warrior’ for the struggle she put up earlier than her dying.
Stainton introduced the jury with the sneakers Horner had been carrying on the day of the homicide.
He stated: “That is what it took [pointing at shoes] to beat the life out of her.
“If you need mercy, if you’d like somebody to contemplate supplying you with life in jail while you gave no life to her, while you gave no mercy right here.”
Stainton additional acknowledged that Horner is “proof why there may be evil in society and we will by no means flip again” and the very cause Texas retains the dying penalty.
Horner is to be transferred to the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in West Livingston, Texas, the place he’ll be part of different inmates on dying row.
Jurors have been proven greater than an hour of video and audio footage capturing Athena’s closing moments.
Earlier proof revealed that Horner had referred to as Athena ‘sweetie’ and engaged her in dialog about faculty as he positioned her behind his van.
Athena Strand was simply seven-years-old when she was murdered (Picture: undefined)
In deeply disturbing audio, the younger woman requested her kidnapper: “Is that this your own home?” Horner replied: “No, I do not dwell round right here”.
“The place are we going? What are you doing?” Athena requested a couple of moments later.
Horner answered: “We’re going to hang around for some time.”
Horner then instructed the woman to take away her prime, silencing her when she questioned why. She started to cry and referred to as out for her mom.
“Are you a kidnapper?” Athena requested via her tears and begs to go residence. “Why are you doing this?”
Horner responded: “Since you are fairly. You understand that?”
The seven-year-old’s physique was found two days later, 9 miles from her residence.
Defendant Tanner Horner enters the courtroom following a break in testimony Tuesday, April 7, 2026, on the Tim Curry Felony Justice Heart in Fort Value, Texas. Horner pleaded responsible to capital homicide within the November 2022 strangulation killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand. (Amanda McCoy/Star-Telegram by way of AP, Pool) (Picture: AP)
Through the trial, jurors additionally heard the deeply distressing testimonies of each of Strand’s dad and mom.
It was decided that Athena died because of blunt pressure accidents mixed with smothering and strangulation.
The health worker’s report acknowledged that Athena’s physique confirmed no indicators of sexual trauma.
Nevertheless, former forensic analyst with the Texas Division of Public Security, Jacqueline Ferrara, testified at Horner’s trial that male DNA had been found on swabs taken from Athena’s rape equipment.
Initially, Horner claimed that he had unintentionally struck the woman together with his van and strangled her in a second of panic.
Prosecutors dismissed this as an ‘absolute lie’, asserting that Athena had not sustained any accidents previous to the kidnapping, with footage recorded contained in the automobile exhibiting the woman acutely aware and showing unhurt.
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