Share and Follow
A Texas jury has sentenced FedEx driver Tanner Horner to death for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand, concluding a case that has captivated national attention.
The verdict was delivered on May 5, following weeks of emotional testimonies from investigators, Athena’s grieving family, and those who knew Horner. The trial shed light on the tragic events of the case, leaving a profound impact on all involved.
Jurors were presented with haunting evidence, including video footage of Horner placing the young girl into his van after delivering a package to her home in 2022. The court also heard chilling audio recordings of the murder, forcing jurors to confront the terrifying final moments of Athena’s life before reaching their decision.
In a heartfelt statement after the verdict, Athena’s uncle, Elijah Strand, expressed the family’s anguish. “There are no words that truly capture the devastation that Tanner Horner caused us and our family,” he said, as reported by 11 Alive. “What he took from this world is not just a child… he took a light, a future, and a piece of every single person who loved her.”
The following provides a timeline of the significant events in this harrowing case that ultimately led to Horner’s sentencing.
Nov. 30, 2022: Athena Strand Disappears
The 7-year-old was last seen at her Paradise, Texas home around 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2022, according to a flier from the Wise County Sheriff’s Office. Strand—who was first listed as an “endangered child”—was wearing blue jeans with flowers embroidered on the pockets, a grey long sleeve shirt and light brown boots.
“We know that there was a little bit of an argument between her and her stepmom last night, but it isn’t anything unusual,” Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said at the time, according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “There was that argument, then stepmom went to fix dinner, came back to get Athena, and Athena wasn’t in her room.”
Dec. 2, 2022: FedEx Driver Tanner Horner Arrested, Body is Discovered
Just two days after she disappeared, the Wise County Sheriff announced the arrest of Tanner Lynn Horner, a contract driver for FedEx who had made a delivery to the family’s home about the same time that Athena disappeared.
Akin said police identified Horner as the suspected killer through digital evidence and a confession, according to CBS News.
That same day, investigators discovered Athena’s body about 9 miles from her home.
“It hurts our hearts to know that that child died,” Akin said at a press conference streamed by WFAA. “So much so that she is on her way now to the medical examiner’s office and there’s a Texas Ranger in front of her and there’s a Texas Ranger behind her. This community does not like losing our children and we can see it because of all the people who came out and helped us throughout this ordeal.”
Dec. 3, 2022: Athena Strand’s Grandfather Forgives Horner in Emotional Message
The day after her body was discovered, Athena’s grandfather Mark Strand penned an emotional message on Facebook forgiving Horner and writing that “hate is a gateway for Evil.”
“This flesh, this man that I am, is angry and I want 5 minutes alone in a cell with the psycho that took our Athena away from us, but there’s a soft gentle voice in the back of my head telling me I need to forgive him,” he wrote. “This flesh man, wants that psycho to burn in hell for all eternity, yet that gentle voice continues to tell me, I need to forgive him.”
Feb. 16, 2023: Tanner Horner Indicted
Horner was indicted on charges of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a person under 10.
“Tanner Horner’s indictment is the beginning of a long road through the justice system,” her mother Maitlyn Gandy said in a statement to CBS DFW. “I appreciate everyone’s continued support and for keeping Athena’s name and memory alive. Please take a moment to hug your children and loved ones. No one is promised another day.”
Feb. 17, 2023: Prosecutors Announce Intention to Seek Death Penalty
The next day, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton filed his intent to seek the death penalty in the case, CBS DFW reported.
March 6, 2023: Tanner Horner Enters Not Guilty Plea
Horner entered a not guilty plea a to the charges against him on March 6, 2023, according to NBC DFW.
April 7, 2026: Tanner Horner Pleads Guilty in Court to Killing Athena Strand, Sentencing Trial Begins
Just as Horner’s trial was slated to begin, the 34-year-old entered a surprising guilty plea inside a Fort Worth, Texas courtroom, according to The Fort Worth Star-Telgram.
Jurors were then tasked with deciding whether Horner should be sentenced to death or receive life in prison.
Although Horner originally told investigators he’d struck the girl with his truck and panicked, Stainton said in his opening remarks that it was just a part of his web of lies.
“She was very much alive and very much uninjured when he put her in the truck,” he said, according to the news outlet. “The first thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up and puts her in his truck, he leans down and says, ‘Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you.’ He says that twice. … That’s the first thing out of his mouth. He made good on it.”
As proof, jurors were shown a chilling image of an uninjured Athena inside the truck, sitting on her knees by the driver’s seat.
April 13, 2026: Jurors Hear Letter Tanner Horner Wrote to Athena Strand’s Family
While behind bars, Horner penned a letter to Athena’s family, apologizing for taking away their “little angel.”
“I’ve done a terrible thing to your family and I’m sorry,” he wrote, according to WFAA. “I can’t tell you how many countless nights I’ve stayed awake unable to sleep. I pray for all of you.”
April 16, 2026: Jurors Hear Audio of Athena Strand’s Murder, Prosecution Rests
Prosecutors rested their case after playing audio of the murder captured on a camera inside the truck.
Jurors watched as video showed Horner picking up the child and placing her into the back of the truck.
“What are you doing?” Athena asked, per The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Are you a kidnapper?”
At one point, Horner was heard telling her “you’re really pretty,” before he stopped the truck and Athena was heard crying and asking to go home.
Then, as “Jingle Bell Rock” played on the radio, Athena started screaming. Horner threatened to hurt her more if she didn’t shut up.
The child suffered blunt force injuries and was strangled to death before her naked body was dumped in a river, according to the outlet.
April 22, 2026: Tanner Horner’s Mom Breaks Down in Court, Describes Difficult Childhood
Horner’s mother, referred to in court only as Mrs. Horner, took the stand to describe his difficult childhood, telling the jurors he was bullied and struggled to connect with others while growing up.
“He wanted to get along with people, but they just weren’t interested in having conversations with him,” she said, per NBC DFW. “It was hard to watch. Very sad. They didn’t like him at all.”
When asked about Athena’s murder, she broke down on the stand.
“I am so mad at him. I want to just tear his ass up,” she said through tears, according to CBS News. “She was just a baby.”
May 4, 2026: Defense Rests in Tanner Horner’s Sentencing Trial
The defense rested their case in court May 4 after calling Dr. Jolie Brams, a child development expert, to testify about the impact Horner’s autism diagnosis, neurological issues and unstable childhood living with a mother struggling with addiction could have had on his actions.
“So, when we look at this lack of predictability, it’s hard enough for a regular child,” Brams said, per Fox 4. “But it’s much harder when your brain cannot make sense of the world around you to begin with.”
She added that her testimony should not in “any way should be implied as an excuse for what happened.”
May 5, 2026: Tanner Horner Sentenced to Death
After weeks of testimony, jurors sentenced Horner to death on May 5 after just three hours of deliberation, per People.
They made the decision after concluding that there was a high likelihood that Horner would commit violence and could be a threat to society, according to The Associated Press.
Horner had no visible reaction to the sentence.
After the jury’s decision, Athena’s uncle directly addressed her killer in a statement released on the family’s behalf.
“You did not just take a life, you destroyed a family,” he said, per 11 Alive. ”You took a girl who trusted the world and repaid that innocence with violence. You chose to cause pain that will last generations … I want you to know that you are nothing.”