Audio and video from delivery van presented as key trial evidence
Delivery van recordings and venue change shaped trial proceedings in the case.
Event / Security
Athena Strand Murder Case
Tanner Horner, a 34-year-old FedEx delivery driver, was sentenced to death on May 5, 2026, by a Tarrant County jury for the November 2022 kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand in Paradise, Texas. Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. The jury found he posed a continuing threat to society and rejected mitigating arguments. Horner will be executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas, with an automatic appeal filed on his behalf.
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 6 May, 00:37 UTC
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What happened
Audio and video evidence presented from inside FedEx delivery van
Jurors heard audio recordings and watched video footage captured inside Tanner Horner's delivery van. The recordings showed Horner lifting Athena into the van, driving away, and telling her not to scream or he would hurt her. The audio continued for over an hour and included Horner asking Athena personal questions, telling her to remove her shirt, and ultimately contained sounds of screams, choking, and slamming noises before her death.
Victim was receiving Christmas gift of Barbie dolls at time of abduction
The FedEx package Tanner Horner was delivering to Athena Strand's father's home contained a set of 'You Can Be Anything' Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas present for the child. Athena had been staying with her father and stepmother in Wise County and was scheduled to return to Oklahoma with her mother after the holidays.
Trial moved from Wise County to Fort Worth due to fair trial concerns
The trial of Tanner Horner was transferred from rural Wise County to Fort Worth after his defense attorneys argued that he would not receive a fair trial in the original jurisdiction.
7-year-old Athena Strand abducted and killed during FedEx delivery in 2022
Tanner Horner abducted 7-year-old Athena Strand from her home in Paradise, Texas on December 1, 2022, while making a FedEx delivery. He claimed he accidentally hit her with his van while backing up during the delivery. Her body was found two days later, approximately 10 miles from her father's home. A medical examiner determined she died from blunt force injuries combined with smothering and strangulation.
Tanner Horner sentenced to death for killing 7-year-old Athena Strand
Tanner Horner, 34, a former FedEx driver, was sentenced to death by a Tarrant County jury on Tuesday for the 2022 killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand. Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder in the case. Jurors determined there was a probability he would commit criminal violence and be a continuing threat to society, and that there was nothing warranting life without parole instead of death.
FedEx driver Tanner Horner sentenced to death for murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand
Tanner Horner, 34, a FedEx delivery driver, was sentenced to death by a jury in Tarrant County, Texas on May 5, 2026 for the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand. Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping on April 7, 2026, just hours before his trial was set to begin. The jury deliberated for approximately two to three hours before deciding on the death penalty. Horner will be executed by lethal injection at a date to be determined in Huntsville, Texas.
7-year-old Athena Strand abducted and murdered by FedEx driver in November 2022
On November 30, 2022, Tanner Horner, a FedEx delivery driver, abducted 7-year-old Athena Strand from her family's home in Paradise, Wise County, Texas while delivering a package. Horner placed the child in his delivery truck and killed her inside the vehicle through blunt force trauma, smothering, and strangulation. Athena's body was found two days later on December 2, 2022, approximately nine miles from her home near Boyd, Texas. Horner initially claimed he accidentally struck the child with his van and strangled her in a panic, but prosecutors presented this as a fabricated story.
Jury found Horner poses continuing threat to society and rejected mitigating factors for life sentence
The jury in Horner's sentencing trial found two special issues required by Texas law for the death penalty. First, they determined there was a probability that Horner would commit acts of violence posing a continuing threat to society. Second, they rejected the defense's argument that mitigating factors, including Horner's fetal alcohol syndrome disorder and difficult childhood, justified a sentence of life in prison without parole. An automatic appeal was filed on Horner's behalf.
Medical examiner determines Athena Strand died from blunt force trauma, smothering and strangulation
Medical examiner Dr. Jessica Dwyer determined that 7-year-old Athena Strand died from blunt force injuries combined with smothering and strangulation. The medical examiner's report indicated Athena's body did not show signs of sexual trauma. However, forensic analyst Jacqueline Ferrara with the Texas Department of Public Safety testified that male DNA was found on swabs from Athena's rape kit.
Audio and video evidence from truck revealed Athena's final moments and Horner's statements
Security camera footage and audio recordings from Horner's FedEx delivery truck captured Athena Strand's final moments and conversations with her abductor. The recordings showed Horner making small talk with Athena, asking her age, school, and teacher's name. Audio revealed Athena questioning where they were going and what Horner intended to do. When Athena asked 'Are you a kidnapper? Why are you doing this?', Horner responded 'Because you are pretty. You know that?' The jury was required to listen to over an hour of this video and audio evidence during the sentencing phase.
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FedEx driver sentenced to death for murder of seven-year-old
FedEx driver sentenced to death for abducting and murdering seven-year-old Athena Strand.