FORT WORTH, Texas — A one-time FedEx delivery driver entered a guilty plea to capital murder charges on Tuesday, admitting he killed a 7-year-old Texas girl after claiming he accidentally struck her with his delivery vehicle and then strangled her in a moment of panic.
Tanner Horner now faces either execution or life behind bars for the December 2022 death of Athena Strand, whose remains were discovered two days following her disappearance from the small community of Paradise, located near Fort Worth.
Following Horner’s guilty plea as his trial commenced, jurors who will determine his sentence began listening to witness testimony. During emotional testimony from Athena’s stepmother about the search efforts, the jury viewed footage from inside the delivery vehicle showing Athena alive, positioned on her knees behind the driver’s seat.
Court documents reveal that Horner informed law enforcement he killed Athena following what he described as an accidental collision with his van during a delivery stop. Horner explained to investigators that while Athena sustained no major injuries when he struck her while reversing his vehicle, he became overwhelmed with fear and placed her inside his van.
According to the arrest warrant, Horner stated he was concerned about Athena informing her father about the incident, leading him to attempt breaking the child’s neck. When unsuccessful, he used his hands to strangle her in the rear of the delivery vehicle. Authorities noted that Horner guided investigators to the location where he had disposed of Athena’s remains.
Family members revealed that the package Horner had been delivering contained a Christmas gift intended for Athena — a set of “You Can Be Anything” Barbie dolls.
The proceedings were relocated from rural Wise County to Fort Worth following arguments from Horner’s legal team that their client could not receive an impartial trial in the original venue.
