GUILTY TX - Athena Strand, 8, Abducted & Murdered by FedEx Contract Driver, Tanner Horner, Paradise, 30 November 2022 #2

[gregjrichards]

Thank you to all of you for posting updates from the trial. It is heartbreaking seeing the images of Athena in the van. I can’t imagine what Athena’s loved ones have gone through and continue to go through. I’m glad the defendant has pleaded guilty, but I think it was done in desperation solely as an attempt to spare him from getting the death penalty. It will be interesting to see how long the jury deliberate for and whether they reach a unanimous decision over LWOP or the death penalty. I was wondering if any information had been revealed about the number of men and women the jury of 12 consisted of. It must be horrendous and emotionally draining to be a juror in a case like this, especially if you have children and grandchildren of a similar age to Athena. Texas has a history of sentencing defendants with autism and/or a history of mental health issues to death. I don’t think he was experiencing insanity when he kidnapped and harmed Athena. His actions to avoid arrest and his deception by falsely claiming he had hit Athena with his van, which is not the truth about what he did, indicate to me he was fully aware of his actions when he harmed Athena and the serious implications for him. It’s a real possibility the jury will sentence him to death, and if I remember correctly, Athena’s loved ones have indicated in the past that is the sentence they prefer. My thoughts and prayers are with them at this extremely stressful and distressing time.

 

[Niner]

I was wondering if any information had been revealed about the number of men and women the jury of 12 consisted of.

I have not seen anything - otherwise I would have put this into my notes.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, April 8th:
*Trial continues/Sentencing Phase (Day 2) (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 1/30/26 & ended on 2/11/26. Final jury selection began on 4/1/26 & ended. 12 jurors & 2 alternates.
Trial began on 4/7/26. Horner plead GUILTY. Punishment phase (sentencing) started 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. DA Allenna Banks. Defense: Public defenders Susan Anderson & Steven Goble. For Aggravated kidnapping defense attorney Pamela Fernandez.
Case & court info from 11/30/22 thru 12/21/22 [Tarrant County] & thru 1/21/26 [murder] & Jury Selection Day 1-5 (1/29-1/30, 2/11 & 4/1/26) reference post #536 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...actor-tanner-horner-paradise-2.649712/page-28
4/7/26 Tuesday, Trial Day 1/Sentencing Phase: Jury received instructions. Charges were read. Horner plead GUILTY. Now we are into the punishment phase (sentencing). Opening statements by DA James Stainton & defense attorney Steven Goble.
State witnesses: Lindsey Thompson [Athena’s first grade teacher]. Elizabeth Ashley Strand [Athena’s stepmother].
Out of presence of jury going over State’s exhibits [13 to 21] that defense objected to: Former Wise County Sheriff Lane Aikin testified. Exhibits are pictures from the video from the FedEx truck. Judge rules exhibits admitted.
State witnesses continued: Former Wise County Sheriff Lane Aikin [2016 thru 2024]. FBI Special Agent Patrick McGuire [he & another were tasked with finding out who delivered the package from Walmart containing the Barbies found on the property].
Trial continues on Wednesday, 4/8/26.

 

[Spectrix]

just heartbreaking to watch all of this being shown to the jury. I can't imagine sitting on a case like this. A rape and murder of a child. I can't imagine a worse crime to have to adjudicate. These poor jurors, what they will see an be unable to wash from their minds afterwards.

I’m still watching today’s hearing, but I thought I specifically heard she hadn’t been sexually assaulted?

I recall from the probable cause affidavit that the medical examiner indicated no sign of sexual assault, but then during the prosecution's opening statement, ADA Stainton said a couple of things which raise some questions about that, I'll see if I can find quotes and link to the timestamps from the live court feed, below.

"We'll show you some maps, but that's where we found her. We found her where he pitched her off naked in the water. That's where we found her."
Video cued to timestamp 41:15

And

"Not only do we have initial DNA from Athena that has Tanner Horner DNA under her fingernails, we also have DNA,
Tanner Horner's DNA in places where you shouldn't find DNA on a seven-year-old girl".
Video cued to timestamp 43:30

 

[Spectrix]

I'm still watching through Day 1 when I have a few moments to spare.
It's a lot. I find in these cases that hearing from the family and friends of the victim is the most difficult part for me (emotionally) because there is so much raw emotion. Sometimes I find I need to skip these parts because it makes it really difficult for me to remain objective and unbiased.

Lindsey Thompson (Athena's first grade school teacher) who is quite expressive, she's so enthusiastic about her students and she has so much sorrow about Athena's death.
Ashley Strand (Athena's Step Mother) she really loved and cherished Athena. She has a mixture of emotions from joy about knowing Athenia as little girl since she was 18 months old, to Anxiety (about being on the stand) to sorrow, to guilt (about ordering the Christmas gift and subsequently summoning the FedEx driver who delivered the package and abducted Athena).
I'm not up to the sheriff yet but my understanding is that this case was a major factor is his decision to retire when he did.

And I'm dreading the evidence that's going to come in the following days, in particular the audio recordings from the FedEx van in which Athena was murdered.
Such a happy and enthusiastic little girl who just loved her life, and it was taken away from her far too soon.

 

[gucci2times]

Can anyone explain to me why this loser would plead guilty right before the trial instead of previous plea bargaining to plead in exchange for LWOP and skip the trial?

Why waive the guilt/innocence phase when the trial is going to happen anyways (for penalty) and eliminate the one chance of freedom (acquittal)?

Seems like a lose/lose strategy ?

 

[Megnut]

Can anyone explain to me why this loser would plead guilty right before the trial instead of previous plea bargaining to plead in exchange for LWOP and skip the trial?

Why waive the guilt/innocence phase when the trial is going to happen anyways (for penalty) and eliminate the one chance of freedom (acquittal)?

Seems like a lose/lose strategy ?

Total guess on my part, he pleaded guilty in the hopes of sparing his ugly life, but that State is confident in their capital case and would grant him no such exchange.

JMO

 

[Niner]

Did FBI Special Agent Patrick McGuire finish his testimony or will he be back this morning? Anyone know?

 

[tlcya]

I think special agent Mcguire finished yesterday and released from the stand just prior to the judge breaking for the day.

 

[tlcya]

who is currently on the stand? Is this Texas Ranger Joe Espinosa referred by Sheriff and FBI agent McGuire in their testimony?

answer after a rollback of this morning's footage - Yes this is Ranger Joe Espinosa

 

[Megnut]

TH was detained at a property at the intersection of Hope and Faith Trails in Paradise.

He brought hell on earth. The bowels of hell.

 

[tlcya]

Ranger Espinosa is describing the search for Athena with Horner guiding them to a heavily bambooed area and claiming he dumped her there. They continued to search that area unsuccessfully for a while. Dogs could find no scent either. Horner was then mirandized and taken in for a custodial interview.

Court taking a brief recess, will resume shortly at 10:35am.

 

[tlcya]

it cracks me up how the cameraman filming the livestream can't remember despite numerous reminders that when court is not in session he is supposed to turn the audio off. That cannot be an accident IMO lol

 

[tlcya]

court is getting ready to resume, Ranger Espinosa is still under oath. Cameraman has not resumed the audio FFS dude you have literally one job. Judge had to remind him.

 

[tlcya]

this drive is putting me to sleep like an overtired toddler.

 

[tlcya]

hallelujah, we finally made it to the bamboo field and are out of the car.

 

[tlcya]

well

back in the car again. sigh this is very anti climactic.

 

[Chelly]

well

back in the car again. sigh this is very anti climactic.

Hang in there @ticya . Your reporting the past two days has been valuable. I only regret I am not available to watch trial and post at this time.

 

[shotgun09]

Dude just put them through a Casey Anthony Disney ride. Liar.

 

[tlcya]

back out of the car again more bamboo. This must be where he led them on a merry chase looking for her little body where he claimed to have dumped it. Back in the car again. uggh