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

[Megnut]

several photos defense has shown are the abandoned trailer. then dog pen and pool are shown. Outdoor shower. Why an outdoor shower? trying to finish the remodel and get moved.

Defense is trying to suggest the girls were living in mess and poorly supervised. Oh my lanta I knew this was coming.

Shame on defense that child died because their client killed her. The state of her family's property had not one thing to do with that.

Outdoor shower -- Athena's stepmom testified about Athena's DELIGHT in finding a worm. Described her as COVERED in mud! They lived on land, described Athena as running free. I can totally see the benefit of an outdoor shower!

They had every right to and expectation of safety on their property -- including from any professional delivery service.

The insinuation that anyone else is even fractionally to blame for a FedEx driver STEALING their child boils my blood.

Of course, it's always an illusion that children are safe because, sadly, danger lurks everywhere, but this particular failure of a human being took advantage of the very setting Athena's family loved.

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to follow this through --

 

[Megnut]

sheriff is on the stand. at issue is stillshots taken from the video that was in Tanner's truck. The defense really wants these out is my take on what this is all about.

I thought they were Defense exhibits, am I wrong?

 

[tlcya]

Defense's argument is that there is no way to verify the still shots taken from the video taken by the fedex truck and therefor the stills shouldn't be allowed to be presented by the state before the jury. Because the stills weren't taken by the sheriff and he was not present when the fedex truck filmed those things.

Judge overruled - good, super weak argument.

 

[Megnut]

I'm 7 m behind. Why is the Defense attorney so abrasive???

 

[Megnut]

Defense's argument is that there is no way to verify the still shots taken from the video taken by the fedex truck and therefor the stills shouldn't be allowed to be presented by the state before the jury. Because the stills weren't taken by the sheriff and he was not present when the fedex truck filmed those things.

Judge overruled - good super weak argument.

Ridiculous argument. Roll the video. Not that I want to see it, but we know where the stills come from.

 

[tlcya]

prior to being sheriff he was a Texas Ranger for many years.

 

[tlcya]

this part of the trial is boring me, I am zoning out. I know it is necessary to illustrate the region, the roads, the areas we will be discussing later, but good gravy is dull dry stuff.

 

[arielilane]

FORT WAYNE, Texas (Court TV) — A man faces a potential death sentence in Texas after pleading guilty to killing a 7-year-old girl moments before his trial was supposed to begin.


Tanner Lynn Horner, 35, had been charged with aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a person under 10 years old in the death of Athena Strand, who disappeared from her home on Nov. 30, 2022.

On Tuesday, as the trial began, Horner pleaded guilty to the charges, meaning the jury seated will now only be tasked with determining whether he will face the death penalty.

TX v. Tanner Lynn Horner: Murder of Athena Strand Trial

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Tanner Lynn Horner, who pleaded guilty to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand.

www.courttv.com

This photo provided by the Texas Dept. of Public Safety shows 7-year-old Athena Strand. 31-year-old Tanner Lynn Horner has been arrested on kidnapping and murder charges in the Strand’s death. (Texas Dept. of Public Safey)

 

[tlcya]

Sheriff has now described for the state the photos they wanted him to discuss (taken from the video of fedex truck I believe). Defense is now crossing sheriff

 

[tlcya]

now describing Rangers discovering the package and that it had been delivered around the same time that Athena went missing. Investigation then moved a different direction.

 

[tlcya]

FBI rangers and Sheriff's department were then working the possible abduction lead on the 2nd. Ranger Joe Espinosa (sp?) is the one who discovered that Horner was teh driver of the truck that delivered that package containing the Barbies.

 

[Dotta]

"Horrifying new photo shows Athena Strand, 7, ​

being driven to her death by FedEx driver ​

who abducted and strangled her ​

while delivering her Barbie Christmas present."​

<ModSpoiler>

Spoiler: Athena in Truck

Tanner Horner, 34,
admitted to abducting and strangling the little girl
just before his capital murder trial was due to begin.



WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Photo shows Athena Strand being driven to her death by FedEx driver

Athena Strand, seven, was kidnapped and strangled on November 30, 2022, by a contracted FedEx worker delivering Christmas gifts to her family home.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[tlcya]

Sheriff was the one who had to notify the family o Friday evening, that Athena is believed to be dead. Told them we aren't sure, but things do not look good. The sheriff is visibly distressed on teh stand, tearing up and having to stop to collect himself mid sentence. He wipes a few tears. It's really hard to do, his focus was that family. He wanted them to know before any of the media. So once I knew, I went back and had second meeting with family. it was heartbreaking and it was just devastating.

Judge calls a break - will come back at 1:45

 

[Niner]

Okay - it is getting late here - and had to stop watching - I believe they either went on a break or lunch right now. So let's see that would be about 12:50pm in Fort Worth.

So - after Sheriff Aiken - please let me know who else took the stand - if I can't find the link to the trial tomorrow morning! TIA!!

 

[arielilane]

I wasnt familiar with this case. Been reading a few articles about the case.
Sounds like the family have a lawsuit against FedEx Ground and BigTop Spin, and I say good for them.

This case sounds eerily similar to missing Erica Baker (OH) who has never been found.

I wonder if the truth is more that these dirty evil men SA these young children than that they were hit by (vans) vehicles.
We may never know because of their lies. moo



According to police, Horner confessed that he accidentally hit the girl with his FedEx delivery truck and panicked when she said she would tell her dad. Horner admitted to killing the girl with his bare hands and then dumping her body. He was indicted by a Wise County grand jury last week on two charges of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a person under 10.

"This lawsuit is about affecting change at FedEx, in their hiring, training, and supervising of employees and contractors. This lawsuit is about affecting change in the practices of FedEx subcontractors, like Big TopSpin so that these tragic, life-altering and life-ending acts are not repeated," the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit filed by the girl's parents alleges that FedEx Ground and Big TopSpin were negligent in hiring Horner, investigating his background, training him and supervising him.

Mother of Athena Strand Joins Lawsuit Against Accused Killer, Employer

The mother of 7-year-old Athena Strand is joining a lawsuit filed last year by the girl’s father seeking more than $1 million in damages from the FedEx delivery driver accused in the girl’s death and his employer.

www.nbcdfw.com

Horner remains in the Wise County Jail on six bonds totaling $1,560,000. Horner is also being held on four charges of sexual assault of a child dating back to 2013 unrelated to the Strand case.

Big break in the case of a missing girl; prime suspect lives in Oregon

It has been 25 years since a nine-year-old girl vanished while walking her dog near a park in Ohio.The prime suspect in the case, Christian Gabriel’s last known

kpic.com

 

[tlcya]

lunch break is ending courtroom filling up again for afternoon session.

 

[Insightful1]

Did they play the audio they mentioned of Athena ?

 

[tlcya]

Patrick McGuire with the FBI is being called as the state's next witness. He has been special agent for five years now. he had a 1.5 years on at the point of Athena's case. Has a bachelor's degree and was LE in virginiana for approx 8 years prior.

 

[tlcya]

Did they play the audio they mentioned of Athena ?

not yet but we were told during state's opening statements we will be hearing it

 

[tlcya]

he and another were tasked with finding out who delivered the package from Walmart containing the barbies found on the property. They discovered which fedex delivery distribution location that package originated from and ultimately that the driver was Tanner Horner.