Jury Sentences Tanner Horner to Death for Killing 7-Year-Old Athena Strand

A Tarrant County jury sentenced Tanner Horner to death Tuesday for the 2022 kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand.

Horner pleaded guilty to the crime moments before his trial began last month. The judge shifted the proceedings to the sentencing phase, where jurors heard emotional testimony and viewed graphic video and audio of Strand's final moments as prosecutors pushed for the death penalty.

Strand's parents both testified. After prosecutors rested, the defense called expert witnesses on Horner's mental health and medical history. His mother and grandmother described his childhood. The defense rested Monday.

In Tuesday's closing arguments, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton told jurors the death penalty was the only just outcome. Horner's attorneys sought life without parole.

The jury deliberated more than two hours before delivering the verdict. The judge said Horner will stay in Tarrant County jail until transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville.

Elijah Strand, uncle of Athena and brother of her father, read a family impact statement. Tears streaming down his face, he said, "There are no words that truly capture the devastation that Tanner Horner caused us."

He said Horner took a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend. "She had dreams she will never get to chase, she'll have birthdays that she will never celebrate, a life she will never get to live, because of his actions," Elijah Strand said, pointing at Horner.

Horner stole the family's sense of safety, Elijah Strand added. They grew scared to let children play outside. "He's robbed us of safety, peace and our trust in the world and forever changed who we are as a family," he said as Horner stared back.

Elijah Strand told Horner directly: "You did not just take a life; you destroyed a family. You took a little girl who trusted the world and repaid that innocence with violence. You chose to cause pain that will last generations. You say you found God, but what you did to Athena stands in direct opposition of everything you claim to believe."

He quoted scripture, said Horner would face God's judgment and added, "You will face the wrath of God. I want you to know you are a footnote in Athena's story. Her name will forever be remembered. Her name will be forever celebrated, and everyone will forget you."

According to the arrest affidavit, Horner, a FedEx delivery driver, arrived at Strand's home on Nov. 30, 2022, with a Christmas gift package. Investigators said he struck the girl with his truck while backing out of the driveway.

Authorities said Horner told them Athena did not seem seriously hurt. He panicked, put her in his van and strangled her, fearing she would tell her father.

Police tracked Horner with digital evidence. Two days later, her body turned up about 9 miles southeast of her home near Boyd.