JUST IN: Driver Admits to Strangling Child, Disposal of Body
Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver, has pleaded guilty to the capital murder and aggravated kidnapping of 7-year-old Athena Strand. The young girl was killed on November 30, 2022, after Horner delivered a package to her Texas home. Horner's own statements to authorities reveal a disturbing sequence of events following his interaction with Strand, including her struggle against him and his subsequent actions.
JUST IN: Horner admitted to investigators that he accidentally struck...
Horner admitted to investigators that he accidentally struck Strand with his van while backing up. Panicked, he placed her in his vehicle. Prosecutors stated that Strand fought Horner, and his DNA was found under her fingernails. The child's mother, Maitlyn Gandy, has expressed support for the death penalty.
During police questioning, captured on bodycam footage, Horner made chilling remarks about the abduction and murder. He stated, "I just kind of tossed her in," when describing his actions with the child's body. He admitted to initially trying to break Strand's neck, and when that failed, he strangled her with his hands in the back of the van, driven by a fear that she would report the incident to her father. Horner guided investigators to where he had left the child's remains in a rural area near Boyd, Texas.
Horner's defense attorneys have filed numerous motions, with one attempt to attribute his actions to autism and lead exposure in childhood. Horner's lawyers are now asking jurors to sentence him to life in prison rather than the death penalty.
FLASH: The prosecution presented evidence, including Horner's DNA found...
The prosecution presented evidence, including Horner's DNA found "in places where you shouldn't find DNA on a 7-year-old girl," and his own admission that "The only truthful thing that Tanner Horner told law enforcement was that he killed her." Horner warned Strand, "Don't scream or I'll hurt you," as he placed her into his truck. Prosecutors also indicated that Horner covered a camera before carrying out a prolonged attack inside the truck.
The case has generated public concern regarding child safety and the responsibilities of delivery services. The trial, which is continuing, will now focus on the sentencing phase, with a jury determining whether Horner will receive the death penalty or life imprisonment.
