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

[gucci2times]

I have been wondering about his mental health history and will watch the defense case. Obviously he is malingering multiple personalities. In his interviews his self reported history includes taking an ADHD med, depressive episodes with multiple suicide attempts, and being on the Spectrum. I do believe he has Asperger’s (now lumped into Autism) but curious where that diagnosis came from and if it was documented from childhood perhaps in an education plan.

 

[JoeFromLB]

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?

I'm amazed, and yes, horrified that this sick spectacle of a trial is allowed to continue. Let the jury decide now on the punishment and end this! He pleaded guilty, make a decision on the sentence, and end this now. Let us not hear another word from this monster.
Let the family begin to heal, if that's even possible at this point. This is judicial torture, turning this man into some kind of sick celebrity. Enough!!

 

[mickey2942]

It is interesting that the stepmother and biological father of Athena are divorced. Apparently, the stepmother was watching Athena on the day of the kidnapping.

I don't blame her. This was random and quick. Who can watch kids every second of the day? Although, I guess it is getting that way I guess.

I used to think UPS drivers were okay, I didn't know they used contract staff.

 

[Yemelyan]

I have been wondering about his mental health history and will watch the defense case. Obviously he is malingering multiple personalities. In his interviews his self reported history includes taking an ADHD med, depressive episodes with multiple suicide attempts, and being on the Spectrum. I do believe he has Asperger’s (now lumped into Autism) but curious where that diagnosis came from and if it was documented from childhood perhaps in an education plan.

Just going by what was said by the defense attorney in his opening statement, he said that Horner had been raised by a grandmother who "had him tested" and that's how the Asperger's (now autism spectrum) diagnosis came about. But I didn't hear any more details at that time.

 

[Ontario Mom]

It is interesting that the stepmother and biological father of Athena are divorced. Apparently, the stepmother was watching Athena on the day of the kidnapping.

I don't blame her. This was random and quick. Who can watch kids every second of the day? Although, I guess it is getting that way I guess.

I used to think UPS drivers were okay, I didn't know they used contract staff.

I don't know where I read them but years ago I read that the loss of a child almost guarantees the ruin of a marraige. Thankfully I've never been through it myself but it makes perfect sense in a million heartbreaking ways, how a marraige wouldn't survive that.

jmo

 

[Tealgrove]

He is so disgusting.

Those interviews with LE, all about him, wanting to spend Christmas with his son while Athena is dead; lying in a river, are unbearable to watch.

If there was ever a case that deserves the DP this is it.

I can’t imagine, after listening to the audio of whatever he did to her, the jurors don’t come back with the DP.

Zero did it, he didn’t. Zero Zero Zero!

He and Leticia deserve each other. Didn’t work for her and it won’t work for him.

Sickening.

MOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

He is so disgusting.

Those interviews with LE, all about him, wanting to spend Christmas with his son while Athena is dead; lying in a river, are unbearable to watch.

If there was ever a case that deserves the DP this is it.

I can’t imagine, after listening to the audio of whatever he did to her, the jurors don’t come back with the DP.

Zero did it, he didn’t. Zero Zero Zero!

He and Leticia deserve each other. Didn’t work for her and it won’t work for him.

Sickening.

MOO

100% my thoughts as well. You said it far more kindly than I could have.

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

I'm amazed, and yes, horrified that this sick spectacle of a trial is allowed to continue. Let the jury decide now on the punishment and end this! He pleaded guilty, make a decision on the sentence, and end this now. Let us not hear another word from this monster.
Let the family begin to heal, if that's even possible at this point. This is judicial torture, turning this man into some kind of sick celebrity. Enough!!

This revolting, vile, disgusting, pathetic, lying , murderous monster doesn’t deserve the air he breathes!
Put in him jail without protection and let’s see how long he lasts.
Totally agree - enough!

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

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.

Horrific alright- I don’t know how they’ll get through it, it doesn’t go for 5 minutes it lasts an hour! They’ll never be the same again after hearing that.

 

[Ghostwheel]

It is interesting that the stepmother and biological father of Athena are divorced. Apparently, the stepmother was watching Athena on the day of the kidnapping.

I don't blame her. This was random and quick. Who can watch kids every second of the day? Although, I guess it is getting that way I guess.

I used to think UPS drivers were okay, I didn't know they used contract staff.

Slightly off topic, I want to point out this was FedEx, not UPS. UPS is mostly unionized but also has contract drivers during peak season, fwiw, so you never know if you are going to get a unionized UPS or not. Most drivers for FedEx are not unionized because they are independent contractors. From what I recall.

Main point being, IMO some companies have better working conditions so get quality drivers. My experience is that FedEx is rarely one of them.

Labor Made Peace With UPS, but What About UPS’s Chief Competitor?

FedEx Ground is nonunion, and its drivers aren’t even employees. They’re “independent contractors,” and therein lies a racket.

newrepublic.com

 

[tricia]

Please take a look at the top of this thread and you will see Court TV's livestream for Monday so you do not leave to leave Websleuths to watch the livestream.

 

[su5ie]

Horrific alright- I don’t know how they’ll get through it, it doesn’t go for 5 minutes it lasts an hour! They’ll never be the same again after hearing that.

Once jurors sit on a case like this are the absolved from jury duty for life after ? They are in my country .
I sincerely hope they are offered trauma counselling afterward

Just reading this case would give you ptsd so my full empathy goes out to those men and women listening to it

What a monster

 

[Niner]

Monday, April 13th:
*Trial continues/Sentencing Phase (Day 5) (@ 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
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. 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 1-3 (4/7-4/9/26) reference post #897 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...actor-tanner-horner-paradise-2.649712/page-45
4/10/26 Friday, Trial Day 4/Sentencing Phase: State witnesses: FBI Special Agent Kurt Duross [Crime Scene Specialist] back on stand. Alise Amey [Wise County Sheriff's Dept. CSI]. Wise County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Brett Yaro. [He oversees the crime lab. He is a certified fingerprint expert in the state of Texas & processed the vehicles referred to as van no. 1 & van no. 2 & collected DNA swabs from inside Horner’s mouth. He also collected the clothing & the muddy tennis shoes Horner was wearing when arrested on Dec. 2, 2022]. Yaro will return to the stand on Monday. Trial continues on Monday, 4/13/26.

 

[Spectrix]

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?

I believe his cell phone and the truck data led them to the body of water he disposed of Athena in.

Digital forensics alone iirc.

I went back through the police recordings of Day 2 trying to get some closure on the point, if any, where Tanner fessed up to where Athena's body actually was.

In the end he did tell them, and that is how they found Athena's body. It was after they drove him back out to the bamboo a second time, he swore again that he'd left her there, and after searching and not finding her there (again), Detective Espinoza finally asked to speak with Zero directly. At this point (according to Detective Espinoza) Tanners eyes rolled back in his head and he said "She's in the river" - and he directed them there.

I think the reason that he came up with the phoney bamboo location was that he wanted to make out that Tanner had taken Athena's body to the Bamboo (fully clothed), and then Zero had taken over, undressed / maybe SA / and finally took her to the river.

And of course, he says, Zero only came into his life when he started taking a certain Antidepressant. It's all the medications fault!

 

[tlcya]

I went back through the police recordings of Day 2 trying to get some closure on the point, if any, where Tanner fessed up to where Athena's body actually was.

In the end he did tell them, and that is how they found Athena's body. It was after they drove him back out to the bamboo a second time, he swore again that he'd left her there, and after searching and not finding her there (again), Detective Espinoza finally asked to speak with Zero directly. At this point (according to Detective Espinoza) Tanners eyes rolled back in his head and he said "She's in the river" - and he directed them there.

I think the reason that he came up with the phoney bamboo location was that he wanted to make out that Tanner had taken Athena's body to the Bamboo (fully clothed), and then Zero had taken over, undressed / maybe SA / and finally took her to the river.

And of course, he says, Zero only came into his life when he started taking a certain Antidepressant. It's all the medications fault!

thank you, so Zero told them she was in the river and his digital footprint helped them in figuring out where to search specifically.

 

[tlcya]

witness from Friday is back on the stand for redirect. He entered the cell after Horner had been transported to hospital after his in custody attempt at suicide. He photographed the cell. (we are going to hear about the letters to his family to Athena's etc. the were referenced in Friday afternoon's testimony) Those original letters are physically present in court today if needed.

states 276, 277, 278, (there is no 279) 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, and 285 are entered into evidence. they are photocopies of those letters. They are published to the jury.

exh. 276 is a photo of the sealed letters recovered from the cell/scene. They were laid out in the manner seen in the photo

the first envelope reads "for Athena's family"

"detectives only"

"legacy church"

"Melissa Horner and Jackie"

"Kassi (illegible)"

exh 277 is the envelope/bag those letters were placed into

exh 280 is the handwritten letter to Athena's family and it is read into the record.

 

[tlcya]

The letter apologizes and then goes into his excuses. He has aspergers, autism, change really affects him. Long whining excuses about how he was suicidal. Medication helped but Fedex continued to change my route even tho I told htem I needed consistency and routine.

exh 281 is page 2 of letter to Athena's family. More continued whining about mental health and how fedex is to blame. Home life was sad and stressful. Then fedex changed things and I was off to a new contractor with the subcontracting delivery. They didn't care about my mental health. The holidays only increased my stress blah blah blah. I'm sorry she didn't deserve it, my son didn't deserve it blah blah. He asks for forgiveness and hoes his death will bring them piece.

exh 282 small paper enclosed Side Notes: More blaming fedex and the subcontractor. On the back is 283 note says I hope this helps you with your case against fedex.

 

[tlcya]

exh 284 is the detectives ONLY letter. My family is in danger. I'm worried I will be killed. I wasn't the only one involved in Athena's death. And older man pulled a gun on me and took my wallet. The man told me to take the girl to the bamboo spot. Gave me clothes for the girl and told me to change her into the clothes. He threatened my family. (oh my word this is some great fiction) the man took her and I saw him going with her to the creek. the next day I drove by and found her body. I put her body into the water. you can't tell anyone because I need my family to be safe. Then described the mystery man. BTW that man also messed with the cameras on the fedex truck.

FFS that was the best he could come up with. He tells Athena's family he did it and it was fedex's fault. The detective letter there is a mystery man who did and is threatening his and his family's lives.

 

[shotgun09]

exh 284 is the detectives ONLY letter. My family is in danger. I'm worried I will be killed. I wasn't the only one involved in Athena's death. And older man pulled a gun on me and took my wallet. The man told me to take the girl to the bamboo spot. Gave me clothes for the girl and told me to change her into the clothes. He threatened my family. (oh my word this is some great fiction) the man took her and I saw him going with her to the creek. the next day I drove by and found her body. I put her body into the water. you can't tell anyone because I need my family to be safe. Then described the mystery man. BTW that man also messed with the cameras on the fedex truck.

FFS that was the best he could come up with. He tells Athena's family he did it and it was fedex's fault. The detective letter there is a mystery man who did and is threatening his and his family's lives.

That is Horner's version of Ninja's.

 

[tlcya]

exh 227 is the defendant's underpants (waiting to hear the relevance of them) a long hair collected from within the underpants