Athena Strand Talked to Kidnapper About Her School and Teacher. Then She Realized Something Was Wrong
Jurors are determining whether to sentence Tanner Horner to life in prison without parole or death
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Athena Strand shown on video when Tanner Horner kidnapped her in 2022. Credit :
NBC DFW/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
Athena Strand was playing in her driveway when a FedEx driver put her in his truck and kidnapped her
Tanner Horner, 34, then attacked the 7-year-old girl, who prosecutors said fought back valiantly
Horner pleaded guilty on April 7 to capital murder and kidnapping and faces the death penalty during the sentencing phase of his trial
Just before the sun began to set on Nov. 30, 2022, Athena Strand was playing in the driveway of her home in Paradise, Texas, when a FedEx delivery driver showed up with a package.
Inside was a Christmas present for her â a box of “You Can Be Anything” Barbie dolls â a gift for her from her stepmother.
The 7-year-old never got the chance to open the present.
She also had no idea that these were among her last moments alive.
As PEOPLE previously reported, on Tuesday, April 7, Tanner Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the death of the first-grader. Now jurors are weighing whether to sentence him to life in prison without parole or to death.
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Athena Strand.
Wise County Sheriff’s Department
In court on Thursday during Horner’s sentencing trial, jurors were shown video footage and listened to audio of the little girl’s last moments alive, when she knew something was wrong and began questioning Horner.
Moments after Horner dropped off the package at Athena’s house, he opened the doors in the back of his truck, lifted her up and then put her inside, NBC DFW and the Star-Telegram report.
After walking her through the cargo area, he put her down behind the passenger seat.
âWhat are you doing?â the little girl was heard asking him in video shown to jurors, the two outlets report. âAre you a kidnapper?â
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Athena Strand; Tanner Lynn Horner.
Texas EquuSearch/Facebook; WFAA/YouTube
After Horner climbed into the driver’s seat, started the truck and pulled away from her house, she could be seen standing up and holding onto the sides of the doorway leading to the cargo area.
âWhere are we going?â she asked him, the Star-Telegram reports.
âIt doesn’t matter,â he replied.
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He told her to sit down or else he would hurt her.
At this point, he covered the camera inside the truck, NBC DFW reports. But audio of what went on inside was still being recorded.
Horner then asked Athena how old she was, and about her school.
When Athena told him the name of her teacher, Horner asked, âIs she nice?â the Star-Telegram reports.
The conversation took a chilling turn when he said, âYou’re really pretty, you know that?â
The truck stopped and when Athena asked what was going on, Horner told her they were going to âhang out for a minute,â NBC DFW reports.
He ordered her to take off her shirt and she said âno,” telling him she wanted her mother, NBC DFW reports.
Athena asked again if he was a kidnapper and said she wanted to go home, the Star-Telegram reports.
Then jurors heard sounds of banging and choking and Athena screaming and crying, the Star-Telegram reports.
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Some jurors were crying when they heard what was happening to the little girl, NBC DFW reports.
The song âJingle Bell Rockâ could be heard playing in the background as Horner began driving again, yelling at her to be quiet or else he would hurt her again, the Star-Telegram reports.
Athena, who stayed calm during her abduction and had the wherewithal to question her abductor, fought back when Horner was attacking her, prosecutors said, according to the Star-Telegram and NBC DFW.
The medical examiner said she died from blunt force trauma, smothering and strangulation.
Her naked body was found in the Trinity River.
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