The Daily Populous Wednesday May 6th, 2026 morning edition
Authored by the-independent.com and submitted by Tippy345

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A FedEx driver who admitted last month to the 2022 kidnapping and murder of seven-year-old Athena Strand has been sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Tanner Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to capital murder on April 7 at the start of his trial, immediately sending the case into the penalty phase.

A Texas jury reached its decision Tuesday after 19 days of testimony. The sentence will be automatically appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Horner faced a punishment of either life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, pointing to key evidence that included a chilling, hour-long audio recording captured inside Horner’s delivery van during the attack.

open image in gallery Tanner Lynn Horner was sentenced to death on Tuesday for the 2022 murder of Athena Strand ( AP )

The jury also heard testimony from investigators about Horner’s confession, the search for Athena, and the recovery of her body.

According to prosecutors, Horner was delivering packages to Athena’s home in Paradise, Texas, in November 2022 when he abducted her, placing her in his truck before killing her.

In closing arguments on May 5, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton said the case was among the “worst of the worst,” and the kind of situation the state reserves the death penalty for.

Prosecutors told the jury that Horner fantasized about Strand's murder.

“Tanner Horner was driving a FedEx truck, and I believe he had fantasized about this. I believe this was something he had in mind,” the prosecution said. “The experts told you that he fantasized about things. He fantasized about what he wanted to be. He fantasized about being a superhero. I think it's reasonable to believe that he planned this as well. This was something that was in his mind.”

open image in gallery Horner was delivering packages to Athena’s home in Paradise, Texas, in November 2022 when he abducted her, placing her in his truck before killing her, prosecutors say ( Texas EQUUSEARCH )

Horner’s defense attorneys, however, urged jurors to spare Horner’s life, presenting testimony about his troubled upbringing, autism diagnosis, exposure to toxic levels of lead, and mental health struggles.

They argued prosecutors failed to prove he would pose a continuing threat in prison and said those factors warranted a life sentence. But jurors rejected those arguments.

Emotions ran high in the courtroom as the sentence was read, with family members of Athena crying. Her uncle spoke to Horner directly, describing the lasting impact of her death on the family.

“You did not just take a life,” he said. “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 to everything that you now claim to believe.”

“You will face the wrath of God,” he continued. “I want you to know that you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena's story. Her name will forever be remembered. Her name will forever be celebrated and everyone will forget you. You wanted your 15 minutes of fame. You got it. And no one's going to remember you after this.”

Horner will be transferred to the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in West Livingston, Texas. His execution date will be set at a later date.

ThriceAlmighty on May 5th, 2026 at 22:12 UTC »

JFC, a part of me died inside reading the details. Especially as a father of a 6 year old amazing daughter.

"The recording came from a camera mounted inside the FedEx delivery truck. Horner covered the lens with what looked like a sticky note, but the audio kept rolling for more than an hour. Prosecutors used it as the centerpiece of their case during sentencing.

What it captured, based on courtroom reporting: Horner lifting Athena into the back of the truck, then driving off while telling her not to scream or he would hurt her. He asked her how old she was and where she went to school. Before covering the camera he reportedly told her, "You're really pretty. You know that?" He stopped the van, told her they were going to "hang out," and told her to take her shirt off. She cried, asked what he was doing, asked "are you a kidnapper," asked for her mother, and asked to go home. The audio then continued for over an hour with crying, screaming, and banging. The medical examiner ruled she died from blunt force injuries combined with smothering and strangulation."

DeathOfADane on May 5th, 2026 at 21:41 UTC »

Every time I see that pic of that little girl n him driving I get so fuckin angry it actually hurts.

What a piece of shit.

Bowllieo on May 5th, 2026 at 21:03 UTC »

I'm sure the company loves him being referred to in that way.