FedEx Driver Attempts to Shift Blame for Child's Murder in Jailhouse Letter
In a disturbing twist to a harrowing case, Tanner Horner, the FedEx driver convicted of abducting and murdering seven-year-old Athena Strand, has written a letter from his jail cell blaming his employer for the crime. Horner, 34, cited his autism and claimed that changes to his delivery route triggered the events leading to Strand's death in November 2022.
Horner's Self-Pitying Account of the Crime
During his sentencing hearing on Monday, jurors were presented with evidence, including a letter Horner sent to Strand's grieving family in January 2023. In the letter, Horner detailed his diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, and asserted that he struggles with unexpected changes to his routine.
'I have Asperger's Syndrome. I don't do well with changes or things that are unpredictable,' Horner wrote. He explained that when he started at FedEx, he had a consistent route, but later, the company began altering it randomly, which he claimed caused him significant stress.
Horner described how this stress led to a 'suicidal episode' shortly before the murder, and he blamed FedEx for ignoring his requests for a stable routine. 'I let my employers know I needed to keep a consistent routine and I wouldn't have any issues, and I was ignored,' he stated.
The Tragic Abduction and Murder
Athena Strand was playing outside her home in Paradise, Texas, when Horner arrived to deliver a box of Barbies intended as her Christmas present. He abducted her, strangled her, and dumped her body in a creek. A video from his delivery van showed Strand being driven away, a haunting image that has since become infamous.
Prosecutors revealed that Strand was found naked in the water with her hands covered by plastic bags. Medical examiner Jessica Dwyer testified that the autopsy showed trauma to her head, neck, chest, and back. Additionally, forensic evidence indicated markings on her face matching the floor of Horner's FedEx vehicle.
Horner's Attempts to Evade Accountability
In his letter, Horner expressed remorse but continued to deflect blame. 'I'm sorry I allowed my mental state to be unstable. I'm sorry I took your little angel away from you. She didn't deserve it,' he wrote. However, he also claimed that Strand was in the 'wrong place at the wrong time' and criticized FedEx for negligence.
Horner further attempted to shift responsibility by alleging in another letter to detectives that another man with a rifle forced him to commit the murder. Prosecutors have stated there is no evidence supporting this claim.
Audacious Requests and Trial Details
Earlier in the trial, it was revealed that Horner made an audacious request upon his arrest in November 2022. He asked investigators for a month of freedom to spend Christmas with his son, offering to disclose the location of Strand's body in exchange. 'If you give me a month with my family, so I can have Christmas with my son, I'll tell you everything,' he said. The request was denied.
Horner pleaded guilty on the eve of his trial two weeks ago, and jurors are now hearing evidence to determine if he should face the death penalty. The sentencing hearing continues as the community seeks justice for Athena Strand.
