TX - Athena Strand, 8, Abducted & Murdered By FedEx Contract Driver, Tanner Horner, Paradise, 2022 #2

[tricia]

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[Niner]

Got this in my Alerts - for Day 2 of Jury Selection

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article314648882.html

Feb. 10, 2026

Tanner Horner, the FedEx driver accused of kidnapping and killing 7-year-old North Texas girl Athena Strand, appeared in a Tarrant County criminal court Tuesday as the jury selection process continues for his upcoming capital murder trial. Horner’s attorneys and a team of prosecutors with the Wise County District Attorney’s Office conducted one-on-one interviews with prospective jurors on their fitness to serve.
[.....]
About 57 individuals out of a pool of 300 were omitted Jan. 29 after indicating they’d already made up their minds about Horner’s innocence or guilt. The 243 who made the cut filled out an 18-page questionnaire, which attorneys used Tuesday as the basis for their examination.
[.....]
This phase of the selection process is expected to take several days. Presiding Judge George Gallagher said they will narrow down the jury pool to around 55 people, who will return March 31 for the final selection.
[.....]
The trial is scheduled to begin April 7 in the 297th District Court.

 

[Niner]

So - since they said "several days" for jury selection - I updated my notes. Guessing that they are still going on....

Thursday, February 12th:
*Jury Selection continues (Day 5) (Athena’s Case) – (@ 9am CT) - TX - Athena Presley Monroe Strand (7) – (last seen near the 200 block of County 3573 on Nov. 30, 2022 in Paradise. Reported missing by mom @ 6:40pm on 11/30/22; found deceased along the water’s edge of the Trinity River southeast of Boyd on the evening of Dec. 2, 2022 about 9 miles from her home). *Tanner Lynn Horner (31/now 34) arrested (12/3/22), indicted (2/16/23), charged & arraigned (3/6/23) with capital murder (under the age of 10) & 1st degree felon aggravated kidnapping. Bond $1M (murder) $500K (kidnapping). Surety Bond total $1,545,000. Plead not guilty (3/6/23). DA will seek DP (2/18/23). Wise County/Now in 297th District Court-Tarrant County
TX - *Tanner Lynn Horner (31/now 34) charged (12/21/22) with 3 counts of sexual assault (from 2013) in Fort Worth. Bond @ $45K. Surety Bond Total $135K. Tarrant County
Admitted kidnapping & killing Athena.
Jury Selection began on 1/29/26.
Final jury selection set on 3/31/26. 12 jurors & 2 alternates [will be chosen].
Trial set to begin on 4/7/26.
Trial was moved from Wise County to Tarrant County [3/16/24].
Judge George Gallagher presiding. West County DA James Stainton. Defense: Public defenders Susan Anderson & Steven Goble. For Aggravated kidnapping attorney Pamela Fernandez.
Case & court info from 11/30/22 thru 12/21/22 [Tarrant County] & thru 1/21/26 [murder] & Jury Selection Day 1 (1/29/26) reference post #516 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...actor-tanner-horner-paradise-2.649712/page-26
1/30/26 Friday, Jury Selection continue begins [Day 2]. Individual interviews will be conducted with prospective jurors staring on 2/10/26 ahead of the April 7 trial date. No info – moving to Jury Selection hearing on 2/10/26 @ 9am.
2/10/26 Tuesday, Jury Selection Day 3: Horner’s attorneys & a team of prosecutors with the Wise County DA’s Office conducted one-on-one interviews with prospective jurors on their fitness to serve. About 57 individuals out of a pool of 300 were omitted 1/29/26 after indicating they’d already made up their minds about Horner’s innocence or guilt. The 243 who made the cut filled out an 18-page questionnaire, which attorneys used Tuesday as the basis for their examination. This phase of the selection process is expected to take several days. Presiding Judge George Gallagher said they will narrow down the jury pool to around 55 people, who will return 3/31/26 for the final selection.The trial is scheduled to begin 4/7/26 in the 297th District Court. Jury selection continues on Wednesday, 2/11/26.
2/11/26 Wednesday, Jury Selection Day 4: No info available yet! Jury selection continues on Thursday, 2/12/26.

 

[roche.analisa]

Just thought I would bump this up....

Not finding any articles on what happened on Friday's jury selection - if there was one. I shall go ahead & put this on 2/10/26 for the Final Jury selection hearing.

Or if someone finds another date?? TIA!

Here's the latest local media, but I don't think it has anything we don't already know: Athena Strand Murder: Defense claims suspect has autism, shouldn’t face death penalty

 

[roche.analisa]

@roche.analisa - are there any updates in the court site on jury selection? Has it started or ?? TIA!

Court site says same old, same old