Tanner Horner was delivering a package of Barbie dolls meant as a Christmas gift for Athena when he abducted her
A former FedEx driver who murdered 7-year-old Athena Strand told investigators he “kind of tossed” her into the woods after killing her, according to interrogation video shown to jurors as they weigh whether he should be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.
The footage shown in court captured the moment officers pressed Tanner Horner about the missing Texas child’s whereabouts after searching his home for signs of the young blonde-haired girl.
“I can show you,” Horner, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to capital murder, told investigators.
When one officer asked, “Is she alive?” Horner replied: “She wasn’t alive when I put her in the truck.”
Jurors were shown an interrogation video of Tanner Horner telling investigators that he “just kind of tossed” 7-year-old Athena Strand after kidnapping her. (KDFW-TV)
After authorities were unable to find her, Horner told police that he: “Just kind of tossed her in.”
Horner, 34, initially claimed he had accidentally hit Athena with his delivery truck, but he has since admitted to strangling the girl after abducting her while delivering a package to her father’s home in Paradise, Texas.
A newly released photo shows 7-year-old Athena Strand shortly before prosecutors say she was abducted and killed by a FedEx driver delivering her Christmas present. (POOL via KDFW-TV)
The hours of evidence shown to jurors Wednesday came as prosecutors used opening statements to paint Horner as calculating, violent and remorseless in the killing of Athena.
“First thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up, puts her in that truck, leans down, and he says, ‘Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you,’” prosecutor James Stainton told jurors in opening statements Tuesday.
“I’m going to tell you right now. One thing you’re going to hear that is something you can’t unhear is the level of fight that a 7-year-old girl has. When she’s facing down a certain death.”
Athena Strand, 7, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by 30-year-old FedEx delivery driver Tanner Lynn Horner. Strand’s father is suing Horner, FedEx and the contractor that hired him. (Wise County Sheriff’s Office)
Stainton also said that the FedEx driver may have sexually assaulted the young girl.
“We have DNA. Not only do we have initial DNA from Athena that has Tanner Horner’s DNA under her fingernails. We also have Tanner Horner’s DNA in places where you shouldn’t find DNA on a 7-year-old girl,” Stainton said in court.
“We talk about warrior in America,” he said. “I’ll tell you that little girl right there is a warrior. She fought with the strength of 100 men.”
WATCH: Tanner Horner pleads guilty to killing Texas 7-year-old
In his opening statement, Stainton told jurors Horner’s shifting accounts to investigators were part of a larger “pattern and web of lies,” arguing the only truthful thing he told law enforcement was that he killed Athena.
Prosecutors said the evidence would show Horner covered a camera, threatened Athena, and carried out a prolonged attack inside the truck before dumping her body in a rural area near Boyd, Texas.
Authorities say the body of 7-year-old Athena Strand was found on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Wise County Sheriff’s Office)
Stainton told jurors Horner then returned to work, drove the same truck and continued delivering packages as the community searched desperately for the missing child.
Defense attorney Lindsay Thompson told jurors Horner had suffered from brain damage, autism, mental illness and extreme lead exposure, and argued those conditions should be considered as mitigating evidence when the jury decides whether he poses a continuing threat to society.
Thompson also told jurors Horner had accepted responsibility by pleading guilty and would spend the rest of his life in prison if sentenced to life without parole.
During a press conference at the Wise County Courthouse in Decatur, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, Maitlyn Gandy presented the box that was delivered on the day Athena Strand, 7, was abducted in rural Paradise, Texas. Inside was a Christmas present for Strand. (Amanda McCoy/Star-Telegram/AP)
Athena disappeared in November 2022 from her father’s property in Paradise, a small town northwest of Fort Worth.
Authorities said Horner was delivering a package containing Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift for the 7-year-old when he abducted and killed her.
Her body was found less than 10 miles from the home after a massive search involving law enforcement officers, volunteers, dogs, horses and off-road vehicles.
News
If She Gets Out: Mackenzie Shirilla has allegedly made careful plans for life beyond pr!son despite uncertainty about her future
At her sentencing, Mackenzie Shirilla was told there’s a high change she will never leave prison. In a scathing vote of no confidence, the judge said she didn’t feel it necessary to give Shirilla the highest term available, because she didn’t ever think she would be granted parole. This moment was shown in The Crash […]
Heartbreaking Words: “My son isn’t here anymore because a boy got angry,” Austin Metcalf’s mother said through tears in a newly released video
“Just because the kid was mad, my son is not here anymore and I don’t understand it.” — Meghan Metcalf, mother of slain high school student Austin Metcalf A high school student has been charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of another student at a track meet in Texas, police said. The incident occurred […]
“My son is gone because a boy got angry, and I still don’t understand why”: Austin Metcalf’s mother broke down in tears in a new video released by her husband
“Just because the kid was mad, my son is not here anymore and I don’t understand it.” — Meghan Metcalf, mother of slain high school student Austin Metcalf A high school student has been charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of another student at a track meet in Texas, police said. The incident occurred […]
Final Words: Austin Metcalf’s mom delivered one last message in court to Karmelo Anthony, the person who k!lled her son, leaving the room in tears
The defense has rested its case in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial. Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday morning after testimony ends without the defendant, who claims he stabbed Austin Metcalf in self-defense at a Frisco Independent School District track meet last year, taking the stand. Defense rests without Anthony taking the stand The defense presented only three witnesses […]
Teammate Testimony: A teammate said Karmelo Anthony appeared “panicked” immediately after Austin Metcalf was k!lled and kept making the same gesture in the crowd
Texas teen Karmelo Anthony appeared “distraught” in the moments after he allegedly fatally stabbed Austin Metcalf, another student testified Monday at his murder trial. A 17-year-old teammate of Anthony described the “chaos” that ensued at a track and field meet in Frisco on April 2, 2025 after Anthony and Metcalf got into a dispute over […]
Day 6 Trial Update: Karmelo Anthony took the stand and began an emotional, tear-filled defense before the court
MCKINNEY, Texas – A Texas jury will soon decide the fate of Karmelo Anthony. Anthony, 19, has been charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. Investigators said Anthony and Metcalf got into an argument over stadium seating during a track meet in Frisco on April 2, 2025. When the disagreement […]
End of content
No more pages to load
