Topline: Authorities say the crime unfolded within minutes outside the child’s home, before her body was found days later miles away.
Published: April 8, 2026 3:52 pm ET
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Tanner Horner, left and, Athena Strand (via Wise County Sheriff's Office / Family handout)
FORT WORTH, TX — The case against Tanner Horner bypassed its most contested phase Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to the killing of seven-year-old Athena Strand, leaving jurors to weigh whether he deserves the death penalty.
According to CBS News, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the November 2022 killing, abandoning his earlier not guilty plea and eliminating the need for jurors to decide his guilt. Instead, they are now tasked with weighing whether he should receive the death penalty or life in prison.
The sudden plea transformed the courtroom proceedings, with jurors immediately hearing opening statements that outlined two sharply different narratives, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. Prosecutors portrayed the killing as calculated and violent, while defense attorneys argued Horner’s neurological and developmental issues, including autism, prenatal alcohol exposure and high lead levels, should spare him from execution.
Authorities have said Horner was working as a contract delivery driver when he brought a package, a box containing Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift, to Athena’s home in Wise County on Nov. 30, 2022. According to an arrest affidavit cited by CBS News, Horner told investigators he accidentally struck the child with his delivery truck while backing out of the driveway. Though he claimed she did not appear seriously injured, investigators say he panicked, placed her in his van and strangled her out of fear she would tell her father what happened.
Prosecutors, however, challenged that account in court, asserting the encounter was far more deliberate. They told jurors the first words Horner said to the child were, “Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you,” and warned that graphic audio and video evidence would show what “a 200-pound man can do to a 67-pound child,” according to KDFW.
Jurors are expected to see and hear disturbing recordings from inside the delivery truck, including footage showing Athena inside the vehicle before she was killed, evidence prosecutors say contradicts Horner’s claim that the incident began as an accident, according to KDFW.
After Athena was reported missing, a massive search effort unfolded across Wise County. Former Sheriff Lane Akin testified that roughly 300 volunteers joined law enforcement officers, forming what he described as a “shoulder-to-shoulder” effort to find the child. Her body was discovered two days later in the Trinity River near an area known as BoBo Crossing, miles from her home, authorities said.
“It’s a hard thing to do,” Akin said of notifying the family. “But I was focused on that family,” according to CBS News.
Investigators tracked Horner using digital evidence tied to his delivery route. FBI Special Agent Patrick McGuire testified that Horner initially denied remembering the delivery, later claimed he saw a green van leaving the property, a lead that went nowhere, and offered inconsistent explanations for gaps in his route, according to CBS News and KDFW.
Authorities later obtained video from the truck that showed Horner placing a small girl into the back of the vehicle, KDFW reported.
Prosecutors argued those shifting accounts demonstrate deception and consciousness of guilt, noting Horner continued his delivery route after the killing, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The courtroom grew emotional as jurors heard from those who knew Athena. Her first-grade teacher, Lindsey Thompson, described the 7-year-old as a “true gem” who loved drawing and was “always smiling,” recalling how the girl had written about staying safe from strangers in a final journal entry shortly before her death.
“I love you and we will have a better day tomorrow,” Thompson remembered telling Athena after a difficult day in class.
“Did you have a tomorrow?” a prosecutor asked.
“No,” Thompson responded. “I did not.”
Athena’s stepmother, Ashley Strand, recounted the moment she realized the girl was missing, initially believing she might be hiding somewhere on the family’s rural property. That belief gave way to panic as search helicopters filled the sky.
“I thought maybe she was just hiding somewhere,” she said, according to KDFW.
She later identified a photo shown in court of Athena sitting inside the delivery truck.
“I know my little girl,” she said through tears.
Ashley Strand testified that the loss has shattered the family, saying she no longer trusts people and that her daughter now hides when she sees delivery drivers.
“I’m not the same. I don’t trust anybody,” she said.
The defense urged jurors to consider Horner’s upbringing and mental health history, arguing he lacked access to proper support and asking for a sentence of life without parole instead of death, according to CBS News.
The first day of testimony ended with jurors hearing from the FBI agent, and the court recessed until Wednesday morning. More evidence is expected, including extensive video footage and law enforcement interviews with Horner, as the sentencing phase continues, according to The Dallas Morning News and KDFW.
With guilt no longer in question, the trial now centers on a single, consequential decision: whether the man who admitted killing Athena Strand will be executed or spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Published: April 8, 2026 3:52 pm ET
Tanner Horner, left and, Athena Strand (via Wise County Sheriff's Office / Family handout)
FORT WORTH, TX — The case against Tanner Horner bypassed its most contested phase Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to the killing of seven-year-old Athena Strand, leaving jurors to weigh whether he deserves the death penalty.
According to CBS News, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the November 2022 killing, abandoning his earlier not guilty plea and eliminating the need for jurors to decide his guilt. Instead, they are now tasked with weighing whether he should receive the death penalty or life in prison.
The sudden plea transformed the courtroom proceedings, with jurors immediately hearing opening statements that outlined two sharply different narratives, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. Prosecutors portrayed the killing as calculated and violent, while defense attorneys argued Horner’s neurological and developmental issues, including autism, prenatal alcohol exposure and high lead levels, should spare him from execution.
Authorities have said Horner was working as a contract delivery driver when he brought a package, a box containing Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift, to Athena’s home in Wise County on Nov. 30, 2022. According to an arrest affidavit cited by CBS News, Horner told investigators he accidentally struck the child with his delivery truck while backing out of the driveway. Though he claimed she did not appear seriously injured, investigators say he panicked, placed her in his van and strangled her out of fear she would tell her father what happened.
Prosecutors, however, challenged that account in court, asserting the encounter was far more deliberate. They told jurors the first words Horner said to the child were, “Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you,” and warned that graphic audio and video evidence would show what “a 200-pound man can do to a 67-pound child,” according to KDFW.
Jurors are expected to see and hear disturbing recordings from inside the delivery truck, including footage showing Athena inside the vehicle before she was killed, evidence prosecutors say contradicts Horner’s claim that the incident began as an accident, according to KDFW.
After Athena was reported missing, a massive search effort unfolded across Wise County. Former Sheriff Lane Akin testified that roughly 300 volunteers joined law enforcement officers, forming what he described as a “shoulder-to-shoulder” effort to find the child. Her body was discovered two days later in the Trinity River near an area known as BoBo Crossing, miles from her home, authorities said.
“It’s a hard thing to do,” Akin said of notifying the family. “But I was focused on that family,” according to CBS News.
Investigators tracked Horner using digital evidence tied to his delivery route. FBI Special Agent Patrick McGuire testified that Horner initially denied remembering the delivery, later claimed he saw a green van leaving the property, a lead that went nowhere, and offered inconsistent explanations for gaps in his route, according to CBS News and KDFW.
Authorities later obtained video from the truck that showed Horner placing a small girl into the back of the vehicle, KDFW reported.
Prosecutors argued those shifting accounts demonstrate deception and consciousness of guilt, noting Horner continued his delivery route after the killing, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The courtroom grew emotional as jurors heard from those who knew Athena. Her first-grade teacher, Lindsey Thompson, described the 7-year-old as a “true gem” who loved drawing and was “always smiling,” recalling how the girl had written about staying safe from strangers in a final journal entry shortly before her death.
“I love you and we will have a better day tomorrow,” Thompson remembered telling Athena after a difficult day in class.
“Did you have a tomorrow?” a prosecutor asked.
“No,” Thompson responded. “I did not.”
Athena’s stepmother, Ashley Strand, recounted the moment she realized the girl was missing, initially believing she might be hiding somewhere on the family’s rural property. That belief gave way to panic as search helicopters filled the sky.
“I thought maybe she was just hiding somewhere,” she said, according to KDFW.
She later identified a photo shown in court of Athena sitting inside the delivery truck.
“I know my little girl,” she said through tears.
Ashley Strand testified that the loss has shattered the family, saying she no longer trusts people and that her daughter now hides when she sees delivery drivers.
“I’m not the same. I don’t trust anybody,” she said.
The defense urged jurors to consider Horner’s upbringing and mental health history, arguing he lacked access to proper support and asking for a sentence of life without parole instead of death, according to CBS News.
The first day of testimony ended with jurors hearing from the FBI agent, and the court recessed until Wednesday morning. More evidence is expected, including extensive video footage and law enforcement interviews with Horner, as the sentencing phase continues, according to The Dallas Morning News and KDFW.
With guilt no longer in question, the trial now centers on a single, consequential decision: whether the man who admitted killing Athena Strand will be executed or spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Former FedEx Driver Admits Killing 7-Year-Old Athena Strand After Delivering Christmas Gifts
Authorities say the crime unfolded within minutes outside the child’s home, before her body was found days later miles away.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 8, 2026 3:52 pm ET
Tanner Horner, left and, Athena Strand (via Wise County Sheriff's Office / Family handout)
FORT WORTH, TX — The case against Tanner Horner bypassed its most contested phase Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to the killing of seven-year-old Athena Strand, leaving jurors to weigh whether he deserves the death penalty.
According to CBS News, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the November 2022 killing, abandoning his earlier not guilty plea and eliminating the need for jurors to decide his guilt. Instead, they are now tasked with weighing whether he should receive the death penalty or life in prison.
The sudden plea transformed the courtroom proceedings, with jurors immediately hearing opening statements that outlined two sharply different narratives, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. Prosecutors portrayed the killing as calculated and violent, while defense attorneys argued Horner’s neurological and developmental issues, including autism, prenatal alcohol exposure and high lead levels, should spare him from execution.
Authorities have said Horner was working as a contract delivery driver when he brought a package, a box containing Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift, to Athena’s home in Wise County on Nov. 30, 2022. According to an arrest affidavit cited by CBS News, Horner told investigators he accidentally struck the child with his delivery truck while backing out of the driveway. Though he claimed she did not appear seriously injured, investigators say he panicked, placed her in his van and strangled her out of fear she would tell her father what happened.
Prosecutors, however, challenged that account in court, asserting the encounter was far more deliberate. They told jurors the first words Horner said to the child were, “Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you,” and warned that graphic audio and video evidence would show what “a 200-pound man can do to a 67-pound child,” according to KDFW.
Jurors are expected to see and hear disturbing recordings from inside the delivery truck, including footage showing Athena inside the vehicle before she was killed, evidence prosecutors say contradicts Horner’s claim that the incident began as an accident, according to KDFW.
After Athena was reported missing, a massive search effort unfolded across Wise County. Former Sheriff Lane Akin testified that roughly 300 volunteers joined law enforcement officers, forming what he described as a “shoulder-to-shoulder” effort to find the child. Her body was discovered two days later in the Trinity River near an area known as BoBo Crossing, miles from her home, authorities said.
“It’s a hard thing to do,” Akin said of notifying the family. “But I was focused on that family,” according to CBS News.
Investigators tracked Horner using digital evidence tied to his delivery route. FBI Special Agent Patrick McGuire testified that Horner initially denied remembering the delivery, later claimed he saw a green van leaving the property, a lead that went nowhere, and offered inconsistent explanations for gaps in his route, according to CBS News and KDFW.
Authorities later obtained video from the truck that showed Horner placing a small girl into the back of the vehicle, KDFW reported.
Prosecutors argued those shifting accounts demonstrate deception and consciousness of guilt, noting Horner continued his delivery route after the killing, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The courtroom grew emotional as jurors heard from those who knew Athena. Her first-grade teacher, Lindsey Thompson, described the 7-year-old as a “true gem” who loved drawing and was “always smiling,” recalling how the girl had written about staying safe from strangers in a final journal entry shortly before her death.
“I love you and we will have a better day tomorrow,” Thompson remembered telling Athena after a difficult day in class.
“Did you have a tomorrow?” a prosecutor asked.
“No,” Thompson responded. “I did not.”
Athena’s stepmother, Ashley Strand, recounted the moment she realized the girl was missing, initially believing she might be hiding somewhere on the family’s rural property. That belief gave way to panic as search helicopters filled the sky.
“I thought maybe she was just hiding somewhere,” she said, according to KDFW.
She later identified a photo shown in court of Athena sitting inside the delivery truck.
“I know my little girl,” she said through tears.
Ashley Strand testified that the loss has shattered the family, saying she no longer trusts people and that her daughter now hides when she sees delivery drivers.
“I’m not the same. I don’t trust anybody,” she said.
The defense urged jurors to consider Horner’s upbringing and mental health history, arguing he lacked access to proper support and asking for a sentence of life without parole instead of death, according to CBS News.
The first day of testimony ended with jurors hearing from the FBI agent, and the court recessed until Wednesday morning. More evidence is expected, including extensive video footage and law enforcement interviews with Horner, as the sentencing phase continues, according to The Dallas Morning News and KDFW.
With guilt no longer in question, the trial now centers on a single, consequential decision: whether the man who admitted killing Athena Strand will be executed or spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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