A disturbing court image revealed the final moments of seven-year-old Athena Strand before her death. The black-and-white photo, taken inside a delivery van, shows her alive behind the driver’s seat while the accused, FedEx driver Tanner Horner, is driving—contradicting his earlier claims.
Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping on April 7, just before trial. Prosecutors say he abducted Athena on November 30, 2022, after delivering a package to her home in Texas. Though he claimed panic after accidentally hitting her, they argue she was unharmed and his actions were deliberate.
Footage showed him calm while Athena appeared distressed. The court also heard that audio from the van allegedly captured the moment of her killing, which prosecutors warned is deeply disturbing.
Police say Horner later admitted to strangling her and dumping her body in the Trinity River. He led authorities to her remains two days after she was reported missing. The jury will now decide his sentence, potentially life in prison or the death penalty.