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

[Chelly]

I grew so weary of the pitiful parade of blurry witnesses yesterday and today, I was delighted when Dr Ryan finally took the stand. I thought: Finally...we'll hear some logic. However, In light of the State's factual evidence, little of what Ryan said made much sense to me. moo

The Defense managed to put time and distance, and maybe some confusion in the minds of the jury, between their case and the State's case in chief. Maybe that long string of witnesses was helpful to the defense, maybe not. I hope State has a rebuttal planned to sweeten its own case. Congrats to everyone here who sat through these two days of testimony without screaming at the screen like I did. imo

 

[RaspberryMama]

I have given up watching the last two days because this defense is not good for my blood pressure. But I’m keeping track of what’s been happening. Can anyone tell me what’s on the schedule for tomorrow? Is TH’s brother testifying? Please tell me they are drawing to a close soon!

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

oh the trauma poor wee Tanner suffered.

It’s a walk in the park compared to what poor little Athena endured .

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

The witness is testifying for TH.

Unverified but she said it fits with what else she had come to know.

Including hemorrhoids at 19.

I’m not watching it’s too boring, only reading. Thanks for the updates.

Are you joking about haemorrhoids at 19?

 

[Chelly]

I have given up watching the last two days because this defense is not good for my blood pressure. But I’m keeping track of what’s been happening. Can anyone tell me what’s on the schedule for tomorrow? Is TH’s brother testifying? Please tell me they are drawing to a close soon!

I read in a Cathy Russon X post that TH's brother and grandfather are expected to testify. Guessing it will be tomorrow. moo

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, April 29th:
*Trial continues/Penalty Phase (Day 14) (@ 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 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 1-12 (4/7-4/27/26) & thru 4/21/26 reference post #2487 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ctor-tanner-horner-paradise-2.649712/page-125
4/28/26 Tuesday, Trial/Penalty Phase Day 13: Defense witnesses: Blurry Michelle [lived in the same neighborhood in 2001. Her son played with TH-5th grade. Last saw TH in 2011]. Blurry Jay [knew TH in 2014-2017/18]. Felon Norm [childhood friend]. Dr. Eileen Ryan [professor of psychiatry & behavioral health at The Ohio State University College of Medicine ; she did meet with TH over 18 hours].
Closing arguments remain scheduled for 5/5/26, meaning jurors are still at least just 1 more day from deliberations. Trial continues on Wednesday, 4/29/26. There will be no testimony on Friday, 5/1/26. Prosecutors will be doing rebuttal.