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

[Seni]

Thank you so much for the updates @tlcya and @Megnut. Thoughts with the jury and others present for the videos. Must have been bloodcurdling.

When does this end? Any idea?

 

[RaspberryMama]

I was only able to watch n and off today. Did the jury hear the audio from the van today? Or will that be tomorrow?

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044528361947431131

 

[su5ie]

this is just too much. I am crying at my desk.

 

[su5ie]

I must have missed this part of TH’s questioning last week. I hope the jury didn’t miss it.

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C you next Tuesday

 

[mickey2942]

Absolutely devastated. Heart wrenching. This is just one of the most devastating "trials".

Does TH aka "Zero" get a defense for not giving him the death penalty? I am not even sure what there would be to say that would erase this searing testimony from Athena's mom.

 

[Walela]

I still can't believe this creature was arrested at the intersection of Faith and Hope, and this vile hour of sustained crimes occurred in Paradise.

Something cosmic about that.

The battle of good and evil.

Perfect good.

And total evil.

She fought that cowardly beast with the force of a thousand suns.

Fly high, Athena, pink warrior princess with a big bow on top.

Because of this fierce warrior child this beast has been stopped and an untold number of our girls will live....they will not be his victims. She is a hero and her bright and perfect spirit lives on in the hearts of those who love her.

 

[kaen]

I am gutted by today's proceedings. I am so in awe of the bravery and sheer will power of her mother to be there for her girl. I will say that when she apologized for what people would see on the video--- one that she felt compelled to watch but could only go for a minute or so--- and apologized to the prosecutors and LE who had to watch, I totally lost it. To have that grace and caring when she experienced such a horrific loss is amazing to me.

ETA: I totally forgot how she tried to save Athena's dad the pain of seeing her in the state she was released in. Truly, a mom who wanted to ease the burden on everyone, even if they had moments of not getting along. My heart breaks for her for the road she travelled in love for her daughter.

Tonight, my thoughts are with the jury who is going to have to witness a cold blooded drawn out murder of a little girl that they have come to know and adore (the way we have).

 

[mickey2942]

This is so disturbing. Are we not allowed to let kids out of our sight for two minutes? Don't get out to pick up packages from FedEx.

Something so innocent, and part of everyone's childhood, picking up mail, or bringing in packages. And a completely age appropriate task for Athena. She should have been safe in her own driveway.

 

[Niner]

Here's an article on Athena's mother testifying.

Jurors are deciding Tanner Horner’s sentence and this is what they heard

The sentencing trial continues as jurors decide whether Tanner Horner faces the death penalty or life without parole in Athena Strand’s death.

www.nbcdfw.com

 

[Niner]

Thursday, April 16th:
*Trial continues/Sentencing Phase (Day 8) (@ 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 stepmom @ 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 [on 3/16/24].
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.
Judge George Gallagher presiding. Wise 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 1-4 (1/29-1/30, 2/11 & 4/1/26) & Trial/Sentencing Phase Day 1-6 (4/7-4/14/26) reference post #1263 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...actor-tanner-horner-paradise-2.649712/page-64
4/15/26 Wednesday, Trial Day 7/Sentencing Phase: State witnesses: Erica Reynada, DNA analyst. Ruby Kelly who is a forensics scientist at the public safety crime lab in Garland. [performed the DNA forensic testing to the items seized from Tanner & from his shed (his clothing items & hers that were found in the garbage pile behind the shed. She also did testing on swabs from Athena & from the defendant]. James Becker. [He is also known as Jim Becker. works for Velocitor Solutions (the company that handles the video data from within the Fedex vehicles). He is the VP of product & oversees their software]. Marilyn Gandy (Athena’s mother). Trial continues on Thursday, 4/16/26.

 

[SilentHill]

On social media yesterday (so IMO) it was noted that Kassie, his fiancée is directly behind him in the courtroom. How on earth could anyone be supporting him?!

I really try to give family members and partners the benefit of the doubt - denial is strong and for some people's sanity it is easier than accepting the truth.

However, not only did he plead guilty but that awful picture of Athena in the van where she looks absolutely terrified and he looks like he's very content with himself is enough to make me condemn her for supporting him. If she heard the audio too then I don't know how she can ever think it's acceptable to stand by him. JMO.

 

[gucci2times]

I watched Tanner watching Athena’s mom and noticed his eyes welled up. He was also touched by her love for her daughter. But I think this was the first time he even considered the emotional damage of his evil and selfish actions. He’s been too caught up in Tanner to care but I think it’s just hit him.

 

[su5ie]

I watched Tanner watching Athena’s mom and noticed his eyes welled up. He was also touched by her love for her daughter. But I think this was the first time he even considered the emotional damage of his evil and selfish actions. He’s been too caught up in Tanner to care but I think it’s just hit him.

For the evil act he committed I really don't care for his considerations tbh

Right now I'm in the mind frame of ' an eye for an eye "

 

[gucci2times]

For the evil act he committed I really don't care for his considerations tbh

Right now I'm in the mind frame of ' an eye for an eye "

Oh I didn’t mean to make a case for his consideration. Maybe I was just surprised to see an ounce of emotion creep across this creeps face. Glad his reality has finally sunk in. I wonder if he will speak at sentencing.

 

[gucci2times]

In the capital murder trials I’ve watched before, LWOP seems like the given and the DP is the ask. This feels like the reverse.

 

[shotgun09]

Good Morning
Jacob Strand, Athena's Father takes the stand.

 

[Megnut]

They jumped the clock or I missed a memo on an early start.

Athena's daddy is on the stand. I've got my kleenex queued.

 

[Megnut]

He held his emotions in, turned to alcohol, ruined his marriage....

This is heartbreaking.

 

[Megnut]

TH gets no mitigating mercy, if I'm the judge and jury.

He was a full grown able bodied man. He could have shoveled that shed clean. No shame in living with his grandma, provided he was contributing. Contributing to a trash heap is not the same thing.

If he felt he didn't get what he deserved on life, he could have taken great pride in being employed and in delivering goods to other people. Modern day Santa.

He had one job, in two parts. Deliver packages. And leave.

Without stealing anyone. Without stealing a child.

And doing what he did.

It looks like the Prosecution is setting up for the audio today.

I'm devastated for everyone who has to hear it.

Dear God, Athena.

JMO