A former FedEx driver has pleaded guilty to capital murder for the killing of a 7-year-old girl in Texas, just as his trial was set to begin. Tanner Horner admitted to the December 2022 murder of Athena Strand, whose body was discovered two days after she went missing in the rural town of Paradise, near Fort Worth.
Delivery Turned Deadly
According to authorities, Horner was making a delivery to the Strand family home when the incident occurred. The package he delivered was a Christmas present for Athena—a box of "You Can Be Anything" Barbies. Horner told investigators that he accidentally struck Athena with his van while backing up during the delivery.
Panic and Murder
Horner stated that Athena was not seriously injured from the initial impact, but he panicked and placed her in his van. In a fit of fear, he did not want her to tell her father what had happened. The arrest warrant reveals that Horner first attempted to break the girl's neck, and when that failed, he strangled her with his hands in the back of the vehicle.
He later led investigators to where he had left Athena's body. During the trial, jurors were shown an image from a video inside the delivery truck, depicting Athena still alive and sitting on her knees behind the driver's seat, as her stepmother testified about the desperate search for the missing child.
Trial and Punishment
The trial was relocated from rural Wise County to Fort Worth after Horner's defense team argued that he would not receive a fair trial in the original venue. Following his guilty plea, the jury began hearing testimony to determine his punishment, which could be either the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
Family's Heartbreak
Athena Strand's family has been devastated by the loss, with the Christmas gift intended for her serving as a poignant reminder of the tragedy. The case has drawn significant attention due to the horrific nature of the crime and the breach of trust involved, as Horner was in a position of responsibility while making deliveries.
As the legal proceedings continue, the community and nation await the jury's decision on Horner's fate, highlighting broader concerns about safety and accountability in delivery services.
