A FedEx contract driver is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to capital murder in the death of a seven-year-old girl in Wise County, Texas.
The victim, Athena Strand, was reported missing from her father’s property and sadly, her body was located by authorities days later.
The driver, identified as Tanner Horner, was arrested in connection with the child’s death following a community-wide search.
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| Athena Strand |
The incident occurred on November 30, 2022, at a residence in Paradise, Texas, when Tanner Horner was making a delivery of Barbie dolls.
The doll was supposed to be a Christmas gift for Athena Strand, however, after delivering the item, he kidnapped the young girl.
The package was later found by family members in front of an abandoned trailer on the property. At the same time, Athena Strand’s stepmother, Ashley Strand, realized the child was missing.
She initially thought Athena was hiding somewhere on the property, however when she was not found, Athena was reported missing and an Amber Alert was issued.
According to police reports, a search effort involving an estimated 300 community members started immediately, and these volunteers utilized personal equipment including four-wheelers, horses, and dogs to assist law enforcement officers and game wardens.
The search lasted approximately 72 hours, and sadly, Athena Strand’s body was discovered on December 2, 2022, as reported by AP News.
According to an arrest warrant filed in the case, Horner was the one who later provided information to investigators that led them to the location of the remains less than ten miles from the home.
Horner had told authorities he accidentally struck the child with his van while backing up and then panicked and placed her in the vehicle before strangling her.
However, The District Attorney's office called this account an "absolute lie" and stated the child was uninjured at the time she was placed inside the truck.
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| Athena Strand standing behind Tanner Horner that day |
In court, prosecutors presented the still image above which was extracted from the interior of the delivery truck that day, and it shows Athena Strand alive inside the vehicle
According to Wise County District Attorney James Stainton, after Horner placed the child in the truck, he told her twice, "Don't scream or I'll hurt you."
He also added that Athena Strand fought back against Horner and that his DNA was later recovered from underneath her fingernails.
On April 7, 2026, Tanner Horner entered a plea of guilty to the charge of capital murder, as reported by Fox News.
Defense attorney Steven Goble acknowledged the weight of the evidence against his client. However he told jurors that his client had a diagnosis of autism, mental health history, and lead exposure because his mother drank alcohol when she was pregnant with him. Ultimately, Goble asked the jury to consider a sentence of life in prison rather than the death penalty.
The jury will now determine whether Horner receives a sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty, but the court has not yet announced a sentencing date.
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