By Erika Hernandez
Tanner Horner, 34, a FedEx delivery driver in Texas who confessed to killing 7-year-old girl Athena Strand in 2022, He pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping for the little girl’s death. The jury must now decide whether he receives a life sentence or the death penalty.
The admission of guilt occurred just before the trial began, transforming the process directly into the sentencing phase, according to Regulations&Crime.
Jury will decide his fate
Because the prosecution is seeking the death penalty, It is now up to the jury to determine whether Horner will be sentenced to execution or life in prison.
During opening statements, the prosecutor warned that the evidence will be especially disturbing, including audio recorded inside the van where the crime occurred.
According to the investigation, the case dates back to November 30, 2022, when Athena disappeared shortly after a package was delivered to her home.
The authorities tracked the delivery truck and reviewed images from internal cameras, where a minor who matched the description of the victim was observed inside the vehicle.
Horner later confessed that he accidentally ran over the girl with his truck.but when he panicked, he put her in the vehicle.
According to court documents, the defendant stated that the minor was conscious and was talking to him, including telling him her name. However, He stated that he decided to kill her for fear that she would tell what happened.
According to his own confession, he tried to break his neck without success and finally He strangled her inside the truck.
Horner himself led authorities to an area near the Trinity River in Boyd, Texas, where the girl’s body was found about 16 kilometers from her home.
Impact on the family
During the trial, family members described the deep trauma left by the crime, especially on Athena’s siblings, who suffer from nightmares and constant fear.
The authorities also recounted the painful moment in which they informed the family about the discovery of the body.
The jury will hear more evidence before making a final decision on Horner’s conviction in a case that has deeply shocked the community.
Keep reading:
–7-year-old Texas girl found dead after being kidnapped by FedEx driver
–FedEx driver confessed that he strangled 7-year-old Athena Strand in a van after accidentally hitting her
–Thousands of Barbie dolls were donated to a Texas scientific institution in memory of a girl killed by a FedEx driver
