Tanner Horner is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to murder
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Athena Strand.Credit : Wise County Sheriff’s Department
The FedEx driver who pleaded guilty to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand reportedly wrote a letter to the girl’s family prior to attempting suicide in jail.
Tanner Horner is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the November 2022 death of Athena.
Horner, while delivering a Christmas package, abducted Athena from the driveway of the home in Paradise, Texas where she was staying with her father and stepmother.
CBS News reported that prosecutors read letters written by Horner in court during the sentencing phase of his trial.
One envelope, prosecutors reportedly said, was addressed to “Athena’s Family” while another said “Detectives ONLY!!!”
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Tanner Horner.WFAA/YouTube
The letter addressed to the victim’s family reportedly stated, “I can’t tell you how many countless nights I’ve stayed awake, unable to sleep,” according to CBS.
“I pray for all of you. So many people were affected by my breakdown,” the letter reportedly continued. “Not just your family but my own as well. You’ll never get to see your baby girl grow up and I’m sorry. Now my son is going to grow up without his father and protector.”
Horner further claimed that prior to Athena’s murder, he had experienced a work-related mental health crisis.
“I’m sorry I allowed my mental state to be unstable,” he wrote, according to the outlet. “I’m sorry I took your little angel away from you. She didn’t deserve it. Y’all didn’t deserve it.”
The letters were found in Horner’s cell following a suicide attempt months after Athena’s murder, NBC DFW reported.
Athena died from blunt force trauma, smothering and strangulation, a medical examiner ruled.
Her naked body was found in a river nearly 9 miles away from her home.
Jurors are weighing whether Horner will be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.
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