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

[Megnut]

ere's an article - on yesterday

Teachers testify about Tanner Horner's childhood as defense seeks to spare his life in Athena Strand trial

Jurors heard new details about Horner's childhood, support services and home environment during another day of defense testimony.

www.cbsnews.com

April 24, 2026

snip...
Defense plans more witnesses next week

Next week, the defense is expected to call Horner's brother, who is currently in jail, and his grandmother.

Closing arguments remain scheduled for May 5, meaning jurors are still at least a week away from deliberations.


This Dr. D. Bigler - first name - Dirk, David or Dwight??

Dr. Darin David Bigler [this is how he introduced himself]

 

[Niner]

Dr. Darin David Bigler [this is how he introduced himself]

Thanks!

 

[Walela]

Is this "LoveFest" for TH seriously going to go on for another week? I honestly did not think anyone was credible or provided meaningful testimony regarding why TH should be spared the death penalty. And if they bring up the fact that he has a kid, that will disgusting. He isn't fit to be a father, or example for a child.

Oh he's an example alright....Don't ever do this!!!! Don't ever think this!!!!! Don't ever act like this!!!! because you will go straight to death row and there will be a hole in your soul big enough to fit New York City. You will die a thousand slow deaths every day you breathe and then one day your body will die but it won't be soon enough to spare you from having to live with yourself.
moo

 

[su5ie]

I wonder will the mother of his child testify

 

[Megnut]

I wonder will the mother of his child testify

Guessing no as reportedly she's been in the courtroom this whole time.

 

[TMich6811]

I wonder will the mother of his child testify

What do we know about her

 

[su5ie]

What do we know about her

She is present in court everyday as stated by @Megnut . Apart from that I know norh8ng else about her unfortunately

 

[waterslyd]

Now for an appropriate song for everyone to sing to TH while stomping on his head as he carks it.

i learned a new word

 

[Niner]

Monday, April 27th:
*Trial continues/Penalty Phase (Day 12) (@ 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 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. State rested their case on 4/16/26. Defense began their case on 4/22/26.
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 Days 1-10 (4/7-4/23/26) & thru 4/21/26 reference post #2016 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ctor-tanner-horner-paradise-2.649712/page-101
4/24/26 Friday, Trial/Penalty Phase Day 11: Defense witnesses: Unnamed former 5th grader teacher. Blurred Beth is now on the stand. A licensed Speech Pathologist being questioned, jury not present [saw him 20 years ago. State objects to any testimony as to what any other expert told her. She can testify only to what her own interactions & experience of Tanner was. She cannot bring up the diagnostician's report or what it contained]. Testified before jury. Dr. Jeffrey Lewine, Neuroscientist [Co-Founder & CEO at CADET NM Inc., Affiliate Professor of Translational Neuroscience at the Mind Research Network. Education in neuroscience etc. He is an imaging expert, TB, autism, PTSD, etc]. Dr. Darin David Bigler, Neuro-psychologist/ Neuro Scientist testified via zoom.
Next week, the defense is expected to call Horner's brother, who is currently in jail & his grandmother. Closing arguments remain scheduled for 5/5/26, meaning jurors are still at least a week away from deliberations. Trial continues on Monday, 4/27/26.

 

[su5ie]

Monday, April 27th:
*Trial continues/Penalty Phase (Day 12) (@ 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 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. State rested their case on 4/16/26. Defense began their case on 4/22/26.
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 Days 1-10 (4/7-4/23/26) & thru 4/21/26 reference post #2016 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ctor-tanner-horner-paradise-2.649712/page-101
4/24/26 Friday, Trial/Penalty Phase Day 11: Defense witnesses: Unnamed former 5th grader teacher. Blurred Beth is now on the stand. A licensed Speech Pathologist being questioned, jury not present [saw him 20 years ago. State objects to any testimony as to what any other expert told her. She can testify only to what her own interactions & experience of Tanner was. She cannot bring up the diagnostician's report or what it contained]. Testified before jury. Dr. Jeffrey Lewine, Neuroscientist [Co-Founder & CEO at CADET NM Inc., Affiliate Professor of Translational Neuroscience at the Mind Research Network. Education in neuroscience etc. He is an imaging expert, TB, autism, PTSD, etc]. Dr. Darin David Bigler, Neuro-psychologist/ Neuro Scientist testified via zoom.
Next week, the defense is expected to call Horner's brother, who is currently in jail & his grandmother. Closing arguments remain scheduled for 5/5/26, meaning jurors are still at least a week away from deliberations. Trial continues on Monday, 4/27/26.

Thanks niner , really scraping the bottom of the barrel bringing in a jailed brother to testify for defence.

Just get to the closing arguments ,deliberations and verdict

Do we really need this week of Horner family reunion

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

Horrible Horners. I hate that he has any family support, he deserves zero.

 

[Megnut]

Will today be another parade of blurry people telling us about 10 year old TH?

 

[shotgun09]

'Blurred Marie', Special Education teacher takes the stand.

 

[tlcya]

sigh, yep, more blurry teacher types. I really do not want to spend yet another day hearing about this great fun good kid who pooped pennies and then grew up to brutally murder Athena

 

[Megnut]

"Oh, yes, it was available to any student."

My takeaway 2 minutes into today's testimony --

TH's grandmother was dialed in. Made sure TH got every support intervention available.

TH, the adult, rejected all of that, and all decency, to boot. By choice.

TH, the child is not on trial.

TH, the adult behind the audio is.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

The more they parade these blurry witnesses, the more they're affirming that TH was a likable child, raised by his grandmother who mitigated the influence of his mother, that he was a bright fun boy whose grandma was committed to making sure he had every element of support the school systems offered.

TH should have stayed away from drugs. And little girls.

I am so over 10 year old TH.

JMO

 

[Considering]

I could really use the heading-banging emoji that we used to have here. I don’t think I can take yet another day of blurred people talking about what Tanner was like in his school years.

 

[Megnut]

So where is this mystery person who diagnosed TH?

Raise your hand if you think Grandma was a strong advocate, insisting on these early interventions.

My conclusion: he was never diagnosed. Someone labeled him in order to get the services.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

Did she really say that TH had a learning disability but she "didn't know in what subject"?

Huh?

 

[Megnut]

Yes, let's talk about the trouble he got into in high school.