A Texas jury sentenced former FedEx driver Tanner Horner to death after he pleaded guilty to the 2022 kidnapping and killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand from her home in Paradise, near Fort Worth. The verdict was delivered in a Fort Worth courtroom after nearly a month of emotional testimony and evidence, including a recording from inside Horner’s delivery van that captured Athena’s final moments, according to the Associated Press.
Horner, 34, admitted his guilt just as his capital murder trial began, leading the case directly to the sentencing phase. Jurors heard chilling audio where Athena asked, “Why are you doing this?” to which Horner replied, “Because you are pretty.” The recording continued for over an hour, documenting the events leading up to her death. Medical testimony revealed Athena died from blunt force injuries, smothering, and strangulation. Horner did not react as the judge read his sentence.
Prosecutors argued that Horner posed a continuing threat to society and that nothing in his background warranted a sentence of life without parole. They presented evidence that Horner had lied multiple times to authorities about how he encountered Athena and about the circumstances of her death.
Defense attorneys acknowledged the overwhelming evidence but asked for leniency, citing Horner’s troubled upbringing, mental health issues, autism diagnosis, and exposure to lead in childhood. They contended that he would not be a threat if sentenced to life in prison. However, after deliberating for just over two hours, the jury unanimously chose the death penalty.
Following the verdict, Horner will be transferred to the Allan B. Polunsky Unit, where Texas houses male death row inmates. His execution date will be set after the mandatory appeal process.
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