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

[kaen]

I was wondering if the hope was by pleading guilty, what is now being shown would not have been shown. To improve the chances of LWOP.

I agree.

We saw him try and get his arresting officer take an idea to the prosecutor that he spend a last Christmas at home. I wonder if he thought that by pleading guilty that he would not have the entire case presented to the jury -- giving him hope that he would look better. I am sure his attorneys knew that all the evidence would come out but this admitted killer does not seem to understand logic and consequences very well as evidenced by him thinking the officers were nice and probably could convince the prosecution to work with him if he agreed to tell all. I can't imagine that the jury would not give him the DP.

Until the end here, this murderer is going to continue to be exposed and humiliated by all the evidence that exists. The state will not be silenced by or forgiving in any way of his plea.

 

[joe jones]

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article315366117.html

good overview of trial from today

 

[mickey2942]

Did the defendant assault the victim in the truck? Is there video or audio of everything that occurred?

 

[tlcya]

Did the defendant assault the victim in the truck? Is there video or audio of everything that occurred?

my understanding is that the video camera was intentionally covered but the audio continued to record. We have not heard it but the jury has or will. If SA happened (And I believe wholeheartedly that it did) it happened in that truck.

ETA link to State's opening statement which I am replaying right now. I recall the prosecutor giving a time estimate of the assault and hope to find that section.

at the 6:00 minute mark prosecutor describes the audio he will be showing the jury. at the 8:20 mark he describes more about what happens once she is in the truck and the audio they will hear.

 

[mickey2942]

my understanding is that the video camera was intentionally covered but the audio continued to record. We have not heard it but the jury has or will. If SA happened (And I believe wholeheartedly that it did) it happened in that truck.

Jurors in Athena Strand killer sentencing shown grim new evidence

The stream was paused as jurors were played nightmarish audio from inside Horner's FedEx truck that he used to abduct the seven-year-old from outside her home in Texas in November 2022.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Absolutely horrific. I can't imagine being on that jury and having to be exposed to that evil.

 

[su5ie]

my understanding is that the video camera was intentionally covered but the audio continued to record. We have not heard it but the jury has or will. If SA happened (And I believe wholeheartedly that it did) it happened in that truck.

I wonder will jurors or family speak on this topic after the trial

I understand it is painful for the family and I emphasise with the unimaginable pain they are going through but I did wonder if he receives the DP will the family want to tell the world exactly how this monsters crimes deserved nothing less

I don't know if I'm expressing what I mean correctly and I'm sorry if I come across as unsympathetic

 

[tlcya]

I wonder will jurors or family speak on this topic after the trial

I understand it is painful for the family and I emphasise with the unimaginable pain they are going through but I did wonder if he receives the DP will the family want to tell the world exactly how this monsters crimes deserved nothing less

I don't know if I'm expressing what I mean correctly and I'm sorry if I come across as unsympathetic

I think the family will be relieved to be able to speak freely about what they have suffered but am not sure if they will want to discuss in detail the specifics Athena suffered.

 

[su5ie]

I think the family will be relieved to be able to speak freely about what they have suffered but am not sure if they will want to discuss in detail the specifics Athena suffered.

And that is understandable and prehaps left unsaid

 

[Megnut]

I was wondering if the hope was by pleading guilty, what is now being shown would not have been shown. To improve the chances of LWOP.

Surely his counsel would have explained that to him.

Given that there is no real defense to be had, perhaps this was offered to him strategically.

That the jury might have a modicum of mercy for him because he owned it.

If that's true, however, the Defense is erasing it by belaboring issues his plea sealed.

He obviously believed he stood to gain something. Even if only that it made him feel better.

JMO

 

[seasideForest]

defense objects claiming the photos are part of a police report and therefor inadmissible as hearsay. Judge will hold on to exhibit 126 in abeyance for now, the rest are allowed.

I'm just starting reading today's posts now, excuse me if this has been covered, also please excuse me if it's a dumb question, but why would photos that are part of a police report be considered hearsay?

 

[joe jones]

I'm just starting reading today's posts now, excuse me if this has been covered, also please excuse me if it's a dumb question, but why would photos that are part of a police report be considered hearsay?

because the reports have not been entered as evidence, if state enters report as an exhibit and enters it as evidence then whole report including photos can be shown to jurors, but so far reports are only being used to refresh memories

 

[BrownRice]

Jurors in Athena Strand killer sentencing shown grim new evidence

The stream was paused as jurors were played nightmarish audio from inside Horner's FedEx truck that he used to abduct the seven-year-old from outside her home in Texas in November 2022.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Absolutely horrific. I can't imagine being on that jury and having to be exposed to that evil.

I believe I’d need therapy and a deep soul cleanse if I had to listen to that audio.

Athena’s parents are so strong and brave to be there every day. May they be blessed and comforted by everyone holding them in their thoughts.

 

[kaen]

Could someone please clarify for me, did this rotten excuse for a human actually show the police where he took Athena's body in the end, or did the police find it from cellphone data? Or... both?

They were getting the data but when he was his alter ego, he told them where she was when he was with Espinoza after a trip to the bamboo. He told them she was in the water. Espinoza backed into the area and found her in the water.

 

[kaen]

My thoughts go out to the jury and all in that court room today. I can't even imagine what they heard. For the jury to not be able to discuss it with anyone or each other is a horrible burden. To be alone in that all weekend is horrifying. For her family to hear what they heard is also something that I am sure they felt bound to listen to but their hearts have to be broken anew at this evidence. Further, any of the LE and prosecution who had to watch and listen to this video must have created all kinds of mental health issues that are ongoing.

Ugh. I am so sorry for them all tonight.

 

[Betty P]

I believe I’d need therapy and a deep soul cleanse if I had to listen to that audio.

Athena’s parents are so strong and brave to be there every day. May they be blessed and comforted by everyone holding them in their thoughts.

I haven’t been able to watch this trial. It’s too awful to think about. I’m very grateful to the jurors who agreed to do it.

This poor little girl looks too much like my granddaughter. My sympathies to her family.

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

document being admitted lists items he transported to the lab (defense objected on grounds of hearsay rule but were overruled)

SD card contained the video from the fedex truck. So he had to go through the third party company that controls the videos taken by fedex truck. That software allowing for playback of the SD card is proprietary meaning they needed a special reader to access that video on the card. Once they had the correct software they were able to access the video.

oh God. I think Prosecution are laying the groundwork for prosecution to play the videos from inside truck, including the audio that continued recording after Horner turned off the camera

Oh god, I’m behind and trying to catch up. I don’t think I’ll be able to listen to that , seeing the pic of her I. His truck makes me feel sick.
Such a pretty innocent little girl. Poor baby.
Kill him and Zero!
ETA: can I say that?

 

[elliefant]

I am sitting here debating whether, once the state rests, I should bother to watch the defense's case.

I mean guilt is acknowledged with his guilty plea. Do I have the patience or wherewithal to sit through the defense presenting their woe is poor Tanner Horner BS? Not sure I do.

I don’t think I would watch it tbh. If somebody reports on it here I will probably acknowledge their posts but not read the contents. Not to be rude, but just because I don’t want to afford this evil creep and his counsel a moment of my attention for their revolting attempts to defend the actions he has already admitted carrying out.

 

[girlhasnoname]

I can't closely follow the child murder cases, just too hard on the soul. There is a special place in he ll for killers of the truly innocents of this world: children, the elderly and animals.

I will never understand the why of it all nor do I want to. My wish is that the perpetrators get the maximum sentence allowed by law.

God bless Athena, she's flying high with all the other angels taken way too soon by monsters. Peace and comfort to her family and loved ones as the navigate life without her.

 

[BrownRice]

This case is interesting to watch. I think it’s the first I’ve seen where the defendant unexpectedly pleads guilty and the trial basically continues as scheduled for sentencing.

I know the defense attorneys job is to defend their client and now, it’s to preserve his life. But it’s laughable when they are asking if he was polite to law enforcement. I mean it was pretty rude to murder (and whatever else he did) a child. Who cares if he was polite. And then asking Det. Espinoza about his tattoo (lol). What the heck?

That little girl’s face and eyes as she is kneeling up and holding on in the fedex truck are truly from a horror movie.

But, he has (self-diagnosed) autism, multiple personalities, lives in a dirty shack with animal feces. He’s could not help himself. Let’s give him time served so he can go home to his child and have Christmas. I mean after all, he’s a parent.

 

[kkkkatie]

This case is interesting to watch. I think it’s the first I’ve seen where the defendant unexpectedly pleads guilty and the trial basically continues as scheduled for sentencing.

I know the defense attorneys job is to defend their client and now, it’s to preserve his life. But it’s laughable when they are asking if he was polite to law enforcement. I mean it was pretty rude to murder (and whatever else he did) a child. Who cares if he was polite. And then asking Det. Espinoza about his tattoo (lol). What the heck?

That little girl’s face and eyes as she is kneeling up and holding on in the fedex truck are truly from a horror movie.

But, he has (self-diagnosed) autism, multiple personalities, lives in a dirty shack with animal feces. He’s could not help himself. Let’s give him time served so he can go home to his child and have Christmas. I mean after all, he’s a parent.

Fake autism and fake mental illness. IMO. Truly evil person and I am praying for justice for Athena.