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

[Megnut]

"Don't scream or I'll hurt you."

I can't with this, I just can't.

 

[tlcya]

Athena fought him like a warrior. oh lord this opening is going to gut me.

 

[Megnut]

Calls Athena a warrior, fought back with the strength of a 1000 men.

Jesus wept.

 

[tlcya]

we are a few minutes into opening and I am already at my desk at work bawling. man this one is going to be hard, even thought we got the guilty plea.

 

[Megnut]

I've never seen this where there is a full guilty plea but a full trial anyway. Not to find him guilty but for sentencing. The jury must be the deciders, whether he gets the DP or not.

5 minutes in, I'm ill.

 

[tlcya]

Tanner conjured a whole other persona out of thin air. That other guy lied just as much as Tanner did about where to find her little broken body.

 

[tlcya]

his DNA was found in places you shouldn't find DNA on a seven year old girl.

this poor baby, what she suffered.

 

[Megnut]

It gets worse.

I can't bring myself to type it.

 

[Megnut]

Omg he tried to kill her over and over.

 

[tlcya]

the video is one hour. Over and over and over he tried to kill this little girl, you hear the screams, this is what is coming.

Oh my god. Think about that? An hour. An hour. She did fight like a warrior. Like a thousand of them. This is just too much.

Tanner's defense is going to tell you all about his troubles. HIS troubles. I's an excuse.

Thank God we aren't expecting clients today.

 

[tlcya]

am not sure I can listen any of the self serving bull that is about to come from defense about Tanner's hard life full of "struggles"

 

[tlcya]

talking about some football player who's achiles snapped. Why I don't know. With a physical injury you know and can see that person can't do what they once could.

Describing how poor poor Tanner has a brain injury, developmental problem. That you can't see. A bone 99% unbroken still can't support the weight.

oh man this defense is pathetic. like really really bad so far. Poor Poor Tanner didn't fit in. We could drag out experts to explain this. But we aren't going to do that. They can't function the way you or I could. Tanner was injured before he was born. His mom was a stripper while pregnant with him. She drank to be able to do that.

(sigh, already over it, trying hard not to tune out)

Mom was not there for him as a child, both parents were drug addicts and his gramma did her best raising him. He was diagnosed w Aspberger's.

 

[tlcya]

Tanner suffered various mental illnesses through his life. Tanner was exposed to massive amounts of lead as a small child.

 

[arielilane]

50 + minutes ago
BREAKING: Tanner Horner just pleaded guilty to the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand. There will still be a penalty phase as he's facing the death penalty.


Defense mentioned that a lot of the gallery is wearing pink, which is known to be in support of Athena. Judge didn't find it to be a problem.



The jury is in. Tanner Horner will now plead guilty in front of the jury. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oGrh_ZicEyI



NOW: Opening statements in the penalty phase of TX v Tanner Horner. They plan to present all the same evidence the jury would have heard if there were a guilt phase.


10:36 AM · Apr 7, 2026



Brace yourselves for the horrific details in this case.
10:46 AM · Apr 7, 2026


@cathyrusson

 

[tlcya]

Defense asks jury not to close their eyes when they show the jury who Tanner is

I would suggest the state wants the same from the jury.

Lindsey Thompson is the first witness called to the stand.

Thompson is first grade teacher in Paradise (small town). She was Athena's teacher. Has been at Paradise approximately seven years. She loves teaching first grade. Class size is typically between 18 and 20.

 

[Megnut]

Athena's first grade teacher....

 

[tlcya]

Athena was excited about being at school. She was a free spirit, loved writing drawing coloring. Loved life, loved to dress up. She was a gem. Very enthusiastic in class, spoke her mind, loved to talk and socialize. That was just who she was.

 

[tlcya]

Athena was thin, petit, long blond hair, always smiling. States 1 and 2 are photos of Athena. They appear to be possibly school photos.

 

[tlcya]

at school kids are getting excited as Christmas approaches in November of 2022. Thanksgiving break is approaching and then will come Christmas. When kids return from the thanksgiving break it can be chaotic in the classroom. Lots of projects to try to channel all that energy.

Red ribbon week falls around Halloween and is focused on teaching students persona safety and being aware of your surroundings.

 

[tlcya]

Athena made a journal entry in her school journal. her last entry in that journal is being admitted to evidence. Defense objects on the grounds of hearesay and every other thing they can throw at the wall. Teacher found the entry on Saturday December 1st, just after Athena's body was found.