The defense team for Tanner Horner is currently presenting its case during the punishment phase of his trial, which is now in its eleventh day. Last week, the prosecution concluded its case, revealing harrowing evidence from the final moments of 7-year-old Athena Strand’s life. Horner has pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of Athena, which occurred in 2022, and he now faces the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment without the chance of parole.
In a Tarrant County courtroom in Fort Worth, jurors are deliberating the potential sentence for Horner, who admitted to abducting Athena while delivering a package to her home in Wise County on November 30, 2022. The jury’s decision will hinge on whether they believe he should receive the death penalty or be sentenced to life in prison.
Live Updates
At 9:20 a.m., a speech-language pathologist took the stand, discussing her work with Horner on his pragmatic speech skills in school and his behavior management at home. Earlier, at 9 a.m., Horner’s fifth-grade teacher described his time in her class, noting his recent autism diagnosis and his living situation, which might have involved staying with relatives. She recalled no significant behavioral issues and stated that she enjoyed teaching him.
On April 23, the tenth day of the trial, the defense focused on Horner’s childhood trauma and neurological health in an effort to spare him from death row. Witnesses testified about Horner’s challenging upbringing, with a paternal aunt sharing a family history marked by drug abuse, particularly by Horner’s father, who spent much of his life incarcerated. In response, prosecutors emphasized that the aunt had faced similar hardships without resorting to violence.
A second cousin, who babysat Horner as a child, recounted his “extreme fits” and a peculiar habit of trying to eat coins, leading into expert testimony regarding his exposure to lead. Dr. Aaron Specht from Purdue University testified that Horner’s bone-lead levels were approximately 33,000 micrograms—nearly 24 times higher than average for children his age. Dr. Specht concluded that this exposure, likely exacerbated by his habit of ingesting coins, would have caused significant neurological damage. However, the prosecution pointed out that there are no medical records indicating Horner was treated for lead poisoning during his childhood.
The afternoon session shifted to Horner’s educational history and autism diagnosis. A retired school psychologist testified that while Horner had the intellectual capability to participate in regular classes, he needed to spend part of his day in behavior improvement classes. She noted issues with peer relationships and temper tantrums but mentioned that his evaluation records did not indicate a pattern of physical aggression.
Emotional Testimonies
Throughout the trial, emotional testimonies have emerged, including that of Horner’s mother, who broke down on the stand while discussing her son’s upbringing. She candidly spoke about her struggles with substance abuse involving heroin and methamphetamine, revealing that she was using drugs before realizing she was pregnant with Horner. In a poignant moment, she expressed her anger towards her son for his actions, stating, “I’m so mad at him. I want to just tear his a– up,” referring to Athena as “just a baby.”
Earlier in the trial, jurors heard audio recordings from inside Horner’s FedEx delivery van, capturing the chilling moments leading up to the attack on Athena. Many jurors were visibly affected, with some in tears as the recording played.
The Crime and Its Aftermath
Horner was charged with capital murder for Athena Strand’s death outside her family home on November 30, 2022. At the time, he was a contract delivery driver for FedEx. He initially claimed that he accidentally struck Athena with his van but later admitted to panicking and abducting her before ultimately killing her. Athena was reported missing, leading to a widespread search that lasted 72 hours, after which her body was found in Boyd, Texas, not far from her home.
In response to Athena’s tragic case, Texas Legislators have enacted the ‘Athena Alert’ law, allowing authorities to issue an Amber Alert for missing children without requiring confirmation of a kidnapping. This alert can be disseminated within a 100-mile radius of the disappearance.
