Athena Strand was a 7-year-old girl abducted and murdered in rural Texas in November 2022. According to multiple reports, Athena lived in Paradise, Texas, with her father and stepmother. Her family described her as bright, energetic, loving, and curious.
On November 30, 2022, Athena was expecting a Christmas delivery of a box of Barbie dolls, according to multiple reports. The package was delivered by former FedEx driver Tanner Horner. Before the delivery, Athena had reportedly argued with her stepmother, Elizabeth Strand, according to multiple reports.
Delivery drivers typically bring 'joy and happiness' in their job.
Athena was last seen around 5:45 PM on November 30, 2022, according to multiple reports. Elizabeth Strand later went looking for Athena at around 6:30 PM, telling authorities she had not realized Athena had gone outside. She noticed a Walmart parcel containing a Christmas present for Athena dropped in front of an abandoned trailer on the property.
Athena was reported missing on November 30, 2022, and a 72-hour search began involving over 200 community members, according to multiple reports. Investigators focused on Tanner Horner after the search party failed to find Athena, according to multiple reports. A SWAT team searched Horner's home and found items of Athena's clothing, including her socks and underwear thrown in a bin, according to multiple reports.
The jury would hear and see what 'a 200-pound man can do to a 67-pound child'.
Tanner Horner confessed to killing Athena, according to multiple reports. Horner initially claimed he struck Athena with his delivery van while backing up near her home, framing her death as an accident. He later admitted that Athena was alive after the incident and told him her name.
Horner said he panicked, fearing Athena would tell her father and he would lose his job. Horner put Athena in his truck and drove away. He drove around trying to decide what to do before driving down a private road where he told Athena to turn around before murdering her.
The first words Horner said to Athena were 'Don't scream or I'll hurt you'.
Horner confessed he tried to break Athena's neck and, when that failed, strangled her with his bare hands in the back of the van. After killing Athena, Horner dumped her body beside a country road near a river, about nine miles from her home. Horner led Texas Rangers on a wild goose chase, initially claiming he tossed her body in a bamboo thicket, but later led them to Bobo's Crossing on the Trinity River near Boyd, Texas, where her body was found on December 2, according to multiple reports.
Athena was naked when her body was discovered, and prosecutors indicated there was DNA evidence of sexual assault. Tanner Horner's sentencing trial included grisly evidence, leading NBC Dallas Fort Worth to temporarily pause its broadcast, according to multiple reports. Jurors were shown images and played audio from inside Horner's FedEx truck, including excerpts from an hour-long video of him strangling Athena, according to multiple reports.
Horner's actions were premeditated because he ensured he had the same FedEx truck each day.
Prosecutors showed images of straps found inside Horner's truck after the murder, including a bungee-like cord and a looping rope, according to multiple reports. A forensic test revealed a large amount of bodily fluids had been cleaned inside Horner's truck, believed to be from when he strangled Athena, according to investigators. When Athena's body was found, there were marks on her face consistent with the floor of the van, according to Alise Amey, a crime scene investigator.
Athena was strangled to death by Horner in his truck, with her last minutes captured by a microphone after he covered a camera inside, according to multiple reports. Horner was seen closing his eyes and bowing his head as horrific evidence was displayed in court, according to multiple reports. Horner pleaded not guilty initially but changed his plea to guilty on the eve of the trial.
Athena's body was found in water at BoBo Crossing in Wise County.
Horner is facing a sentencing trial where jurors will decide if he should receive the death penalty for murder. Wise County District Attorney James Stainton warned jurors they would hear horrific details, including audio of the killing. Horner is facing aggravated kidnapping and capital murder charges.
According to Wise County District Attorney James Stainton, he intended to seek the death penalty, according to a source. During a court hearing, Horner said he told Athena to get in the back of the van to go to the hospital before allegedly strangling her, according to multiple reports. Horner said he tried to calm Athena down, but when unsuccessful, an alter-ego he called 'Zero' took over and told her to get in the back of the van to go to the hospital.
Horner said Zero killed Athena, and he felt like Zero pulled the trigger. Horner's attorney Steven Goble told jurors that Horner's brain was injured, citing his mother drinking while pregnant, autism, mental illnesses, and lead exposure. Goble acknowledged the evidence against Horner was overwhelming and terrible but asked jurors to sentence him to life in prison.
After Horner entered his plea, Judge George Gallagher ordered a brief five-minute recess, according to research. Horner's defense raised concerns about how a good portion of the observers in the courtroom wore pink in support of Strand, according to research. Judge Gallagher did not see an issue with the observers wearing pink, according to research.
The plea was formally entered in front of the jury when they entered, and Judge Gallagher told jurors the trial now moved into deciding his punishment, according to research. Opening statements were then shared, with the prosecution warning jurors about potentially graphic content, including video and audio expected to last for about an hour, according to research. Horner, an independent contractor working with FedEx, was delivering a box of Barbie dolls meant as a Christmas gift for Athena.
Ashley Strand, Athena's stepmother, told jurors the package Horner delivered was a Christmas present for Athena.