Tanner Horner’s mother takes the stand, shares struggles while raising son
For the past three days, the judge and attorneys on both sides of Tanner Horner’s capital murder trial met without the jury present before the defense begins its case on Wednesday
The murder trial of 7-year-old Athena Strand continues as Tanner Horner — who has pleaded guilty — faces a possible death sentence. After jurors heard disturbing details about Athena’s final moments last week, the defense is now presenting its case in an effort to keep Horner off death row. On Wednesday, Horner’s mother took the stand as part of that effort. NBC 5’s Candace Sweat reports.
The Tanner Horner capital murder trial continued on Wednesday as jurors returned to the courtroom. Horner is accused of killing 7-year-old Athena Strand in November 2022 after he says he hit her with his FedEx delivery vehicle. Horner has pleaded guilty, and a jury will decide whether he faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole
Trial proceedings paused for several days while defense attorneys worked to finalize their remaining witnesses. The state rested its case last week after calling numerous witnesses, including Athena’s mother, in its case against Tanner Horner, who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing the child.
Over the past two days, attorneys on both sides have met with expert witnesses from across the country, covering fields such as psychology, neuroscience, lead testing, and prison behavior. A judge has approved those experts to testify.
On Wednesday, Tanner Horner’s mother took the stand nervously and emotionally. She requested to be blurred on camera while in the courtroom.
Horner’s mother described how as a high school dropout and mother of two, she experienced personal struggles growing up. The defense worked to show how her life has influenced her kids.
“I don’t remember having dreams. I didn’t have a good childhood,” Horner’s mother said.
Horner’s mother says she was abused by her stepfather when she was young, before her mother married him.
“I was four when he tried to have sex with me,” she said.
She says to cope, she started doing drugs like meth and heroin, drinking a lot, and became a stripper for about 12 years.
“I wish I hadn’t. I really wish I hadn’t,” she said.
Horner’s mother says she was still drinking and doing drugs when she was pregnant with Tanner for the first 8 weeks, but stopped drinking when she found out she was pregnant, though she said she kept smoking.
The court would later see photos of Tanner Horner as a child. His mother talked about how he was exposed to her drug problem early on.
“I nodded out one time, on the toilet. Tanner came in. He was just a little guy, and, he thought I was dead.”
Horner and his brother would go on to live in rehab centers with their mom on and off. She says somewhere along the way she noticed Tanner was different.
“They always kind of treated him for something he didn’t have.”
A life of what she call not being able to do “anything right.”
“I’m wearing my shame like a badge now,” she said from the stand.
Horner’s mother now has to live with what her son did.
When asked how she felt about her son, she said, “I’m so mad at him.”
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty and previously presented graphic evidence, including audio, video, and photos shown in court. Among them was an image of Athena inside Horner’s FedEx van shortly before she was killed.
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