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

[joe jones]

The ME was a fantastic witness, very clear, scientific, was fully aware of the limitations of one finding, but when linked to other findings can tell her something, such as petechia, many things can cause petechia in death but she explained the totality of the evidence shows there was an asphyxia event, either strangling, smothering or some mechanism that prevented her from breathing or blood going to her brain, I think for all the injuries the event had to happen in the van, and she fought hard for her life and got many wounds from struggling in van and banging into sides and floor,

the tread like pattern on her face sent shivers down my spine, he obviously stood on her face, neck and chest to try to murder her,

and ME is oh so chic,

 

[browneyes]

Did they finish the phone calls? I had to step away but I could barely understand or listen to the murderer.

 

[Vaderman]

Besides any excuse he's given, what was the motive for this? A crime of opportunity? Did he snap? Did he have a history? Drug abuse? This is just grim.

 

[waterslyd]

* Pleads guilty in exchange for nothing.
* Claims Alter ego committed the crime.
* Playing the court and jurors' sympathy with dumb, lying letters
What the heck does this guy and his attorneys have for brains?

Props to his attorneys...they are doing their jobs the hardest they can.
It can't be easy to defend someone as vile as him. But that's what they do as lawyers. It doesn't mean they are enjoying any of this. They have to take a DP case even more seriously than other ones. I feel for them. Imagine how awful this pathetic man is to deal with! That'd definitely ruin anyone's work week.
I would hope to have defense lawyers as good as this if I ever was accused of a crime!

 

[alexwood]

Did they finish the phone calls? I had to step away but I could barely understand or listen to the murderer.

I stepped away to do some neglected chores; it was easy to do because I found those jail house calls so predictable and boring. So, I can't answer your question (sorry -- just had to "vent")!

Just reviewed a Texas DP case. It took 12 years from time of sentencing to lethal injection. I usually am not an advocate of the DP, but in this case, I am.

 

[joe jones]

Did they finish the phone calls? I had to step away but I could barely understand or listen to the murderer.

No it just stopped, they were in the middle of one of the calls, resumes tomorrow

 

[browneyes]

I stepped away to do some neglected chores; it was easy to do because I found those jail house calls so predictable and boring. So, I can't answer your question (sorry -- just had to "vent")!

Just reviewed a Texas DP case. It took 12 years from time of sentencing to lethal injection. I usually am not an advocate of the DP, but in this case, I am.

Thank you and I agree. I haven’t felt this strongly since the trial of John Couey.

Jessica Lunsford's Murder Led to Stricter Sexual Crime Laws | A&E

John Evander Couey abducted and killed her in February 2005.

www.aetv.com

 

[Amster]

Were the letters read to the jury? Today?

 

[geevee]

Were the letters read to the jury? Today?

Yes, two letters were read, one to Athena's family, the other to the 'Detectives'.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043813693750722794

 

[Megnut]

Again I ask why was he not charged with aggravated sexual abuse? It wasn't just murder, not even just horrifically violent murder. He. Removed. Her. Clothing. That is sexual abuse. Combined with the brutality of his assault.

Only once, after a returned verdict on a vicious murder, the judge thanked the jury for their service and then said something to this effect: I hope you can recover.

The judge, the jury, Athena's loved ones -- I don't know how or whether it's even possible to recover from this.

The inhumanity.

Then to listen to him carry on in phone calls like it was nothing.

Jesus wept.

JMO

 

[su5ie]

Again I ask why was he not charged with aggravated sexual abuse? It wasn't just murder, not even just horrifically violent murder. He. Removed. Her. Clothing. That is sexual abuse. Combined with the brutality of his assault.

Only once, after a returned verdict on a vicious murder, the judge thanked the jury for their service and then said something to this effect: I hope you can recover.

The judge, the jury, Athena's loved ones -- I don't know how or whether it's even possible to recover from this.

The inhumanity.

Then to listen to him carry on in phone calls like it was nothing.

Jesus wept.

JMO

I've asked this many times Zero my ass . Knew exactly what he was doing during and after

The devil and his disciples truly walk among us

 

[BrownRice]

A 7 year old child, 4 ft 4” tall, 67lbs. It’s easy to forget how little kids are when you’re not around kiddos. What could he possibly have done for an hour to her little body. He was almost 4x her size.

I always hope/pray that when a victim is going thru something so horrific, that they can disassociate and no longer feel the pain. It’s too horrific to think otherwise.

And then he doesn’t shower or change clothes for 4 days. Just gross.

And then finally, me wondering if I should cut off all my hair and dye it platinum. Doubt I’d get the same results.

 

[Heaven Leigh]

The senseless brutality of it all will
hopefully gets him the death penalty. That was a long hour for that baby. He dragged that out.

 

[mickey2942]

* Pleads guilty in exchange for nothing.
* Claims Alter ego committed the crime.
* Playing the court and jurors' sympathy with dumb, lying letters
What the heck does this guy and his attorneys have for brains?

Yes. One usually pleads guilty to take DP off the table, as happened in Idaho, with Bryan Kohberger.

Maybe the prosecution in Texas didn't bother, and was ready for the DP anyway. After all, many people in Idaho were upset that BK got to wriggle his way out of the DP.

Maybe they are keeping this open for appeal, that the client is too crazy to kill. Sorry, not sorry, he doesn't look crazy enough to me.

Now, that killer in Colorado, who shot up the movie theater. He was crazy. He looked schizophrenic. And acted that way. I am surprised liberal Colorado didn't declare him incompetent for trial.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, April 14th:
*Trial continues/Sentencing Phase (Day 6) (@ 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 1-4 (4/7-4/10/26) reference post #1033 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...actor-tanner-horner-paradise-2.649712/page-52
4/13/26 Monday, Trial Day 5/Sentencing Phase: State witnesses: 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 back on stand. FBI CSI Agent David Rogers voir dire for this witness first. This witness will introduce some of the state's next exhibits he took photographs or will testify about photographs State's exhibits 160 thru 176 & then 178. He was tasked for overseeing the CRT team on the scene [he did not take the photos] so he is appropriate to discuss the chain of custody for this evidence. These photos are from the FedEx truck, his cell phone & personal property & recovery scene. Defense objects. Witness is accepted, defense objections overuled by Judge. FBI Agent Rogers physically got into the water to retrieve Athena. Dr. Jessica Dwyer, the chief medical examiner for the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences (SWIFS). Joseph Thomas the jail administrator is examined outside their presence. He is state's next witness & must be voir dired. There are jail calls we will hear about next from this witness. Tanner & his mom Tanner & his grandma and Tanner & his girlfriend Kassi. Defense objects, Judge overrules. Trial continues on Tuesday, 4/14/26.

 

[Chelly]

Props to his attorneys...they are doing their jobs the hardest they can.
It can't be easy to defend someone as vile as him. But that's what they do as lawyers. It doesn't mean they are enjoying any of this. They have to take a DP case even more seriously than other ones. I feel for them. Imagine how awful this pathetic man is to deal with! That'd definitely ruin anyone's work week.
I would hope to have defense lawyers as good as this if I ever was accused of a crime!

IMO, his attorneys are putting on a pathetically bad defense by allowing their client to plead guilty to murder and receiving nothing in exchange from the State.
Death Penalty is still on the table.
Additionally, the absurdity of encouraging him to transfer blame to an alter ego is not lost on this jury. Then the final disservice,,, his lawyers are allowing those cringing lying letters. They are helping to make a guilty verdict even easier for this jury. IMO

 

[waterslyd]

IMO, his attorneys are putting on a pathetically bad defense by allowing their client to plead guilty to murder and receiving nothing in exchange from the State.
Death Penalty is still on the table.
Additionally, the absurdity of encouraging him to transfer blame to an alter ego is not lost on this jury. Then the final disservice,,, his lawyers are allowing those cringing lying letters. They are helping to make a guilty verdict even easier for this jury. IMO

What other choice do they have? If they don't put up the defense he wants, it could make his sentence vulnerable for appeal. I'm guessing they hate him as much as we all do. But at this point defending him fiercely is all they can do for Athena and her family. Sounds backwards, I know. But we don't want him to have any reason to say his defense was inadequate.