Tanner Horner pleaded guilty Tuesday to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the 2022 death of 7-year-old Athena Strand, ending the guilt phase of his capital murder trial moments after it opened in Fort Worth.
The 35-year-old former FedEx contract delivery driver entered the plea in Tarrant County Criminal District Court at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center on April 7. With guilt established, the case moved immediately into the punishment phase. Jurors who were already seated will now hear evidence over the coming weeks to decide whether Horner receives the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Prosecutors are seeking death.
The crimes happened on November 30, 2022, in the rural town of Paradise in Wise County, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Horner was delivering a package to Strand’s family home when he abducted the girl. He later confessed to investigators, telling them he panicked after an encounter with her, strangled her inside his delivery van, and left her body in a creek. Her remains were found two days later. Horner was arrested shortly afterward and has been in custody since.
The case was moved from Wise County to Tarrant County last year after defense attorneys argued pretrial publicity would prevent a fair trial in the small community. Horner had been pleading not guilty since his indictment in early 2023.
The trial is expected to last up to three weeks during the punishment phase.
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The crimes happened on November 30, 2022, in the rural town of Paradise in Wise County, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
The crimes happened on November 30, 2022, in the rural town of Paradise in Wise County, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
