Tanner Horner Sentenced to Death in Athena Strand Murder Case

Wed, 06 May 2026 17:50:00 +0200

Tanner Horner, a former FedEx delivery driver, has been sentenced to death for the killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand in Texas. Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder on the opening day of his trial, leaving jurors to decide only the punishment. After hearing weeks of testimony and evidence, including disturbing details from the case, the jury concluded that the death penalty was appropriate. The case centered on Strand’s disappearance from her family’s home in Wise County in November 2022, after Horner had delivered a package to the residence.

Investigators said Horner later admitted that he accidentally struck Athena with his van while backing out of the driveway, then panicked and took her away in the delivery vehicle. He also told police that he strangled her because he feared she would tell her father about what had happened. Prosecutors argued that the evidence showed a deliberate abduction and murder, while the defense acknowledged the strength of the case against him. The ve