US3 min(s) read
Published 14:54 08 Apr 2026 GMT
A horrifying detail has emerged in the murder of seven-year-old Athena Strand, after a chilling six-word threat was allegedly made moments before she was killed by FedEx driver Tanner Horner.
Horner, who has now pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping over Athena’s death in November 2022, now awaits his sentence, where a jury will decide whether he faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
The convicted murderer, who was working as a delivery driver at the time, abducted Athena from her home while dropping off a package – a Christmas present believed to be for the little girl. Prosecutors say he forced her into his van and strangled her.
During opening statements, prosecutors warned jurors of the disturbing evidence they would hear, urging them to “buckle up”. They also accused Horner of repeatedly lying to investigators, except when admitting he killed the child, with his earlier claim that he accidentally hit Athena with his truck dismissed as false.
A key piece of evidence comes from audio recorded inside the delivery van. According to prosecutor James Stainton, the first words Horner said to the young girl were: “Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you.”
Stainton told the court, “First thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up. Puts her in that truck, leans down, and he says, don't scream or I'll hurt you.”
He added that what jurors would hear next was deeply distressing: “One thing you’re going to hear that is something you can’t unhear is the level of fight that a seven-year-old girl has.” He described Athena as incredibly brave, saying, “I’ll tell you that little girl right there is a Warrior. She fought with the strength of 100 men.”
Prosecutors also claim there is strong forensic evidence, including Horner’s DNA found under Athena’s fingernails and in “places where you shouldn't find DNA.”
The defense has not argued that Horner is innocent but is instead focusing on avoiding the death penalty. His lawyers told the jury he has Asperger’s, was exposed to alcohol in the womb, and suffered lead exposure as a child. Defense attorney Steven Goble said: “Tanner unfortunately also suffered various mental illnesses throughout his life. He’s been diagnosed and received treatment for and some of those are ongoing. You’ll hear about those issues.”
Witnesses, including Athena’s teacher and stepmother, testified during the trial. Evidence presented in court included an image showing Athena inside Horner’s delivery truck on the day she disappeared. Her stepmother told jurors there was no reason for her to be there and that she did not have permission to enter the vehicle.
The image appeared to show Athena conscious and unharmed, contradicting Horner’s earlier claim that he had struck her with his vehicle before panicking. Authorities later found her body about 13 miles away near the Trinity River.
An FBI agent involved in the investigation testified that Horner initially denied making the delivery to Athena’s home. He later changed his story, claiming he saw a green van leaving the property, a detail investigators now believe was fabricated.
Further evidence came from dashcam footage recovered from Horner’s vehicle, which showed him placing a small girl into the back of the delivery van, a moment prosecutors say is central to the case.
