Athena Strand photo shows deadly ride with FedEx driver who admitted killing girl during Christmas delivery
Tanner Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder after admitting he abducted the girl
Tanner Horner told police he kidnapped and strangled the 7-year-old after hitting her with his van.
A haunting photo shows 7-year-old Athena Strand moments before prosecutors say she was driven to her death by the FedEx driver who abducted and killed her while delivering her Christmas present.
The image, released by prosecutors on Tuesday, shows the young girl standing behind Tanner Horner on the day she was strangled in Texas in November 2022.
In the black-and-white photo, Athena appears visibly uneasy as Horner focuses on the road ahead.
A newly released photo shows seven-year-old Athena Strand shortly before prosecutors say she was abducted and killed by a FedEx driver delivering her Christmas present. (POOL via KDFW-TV)
Horner, 34, a former delivery driver accused of kidnapping and strangling the 7-year-old after hitting her with his van in 2022, admitted to her capital murder in a Tarrant County courthouse on Tuesday morning.
Once the jury was finally seated on Tuesday morning for the start of his trial, Tarrant County Judge George Gallagher asked Horner to stand.
“Mr. Horner, to the charge of capital murder, you may plead guilty or not guilty. What is your plea?” the judge asked.
“Guilty, your honor,” Horner replied.
“Thank you. I will accept your plea,” the judge said.
Authorities said Athena Strand, 7, was kidnapped and murdered by 30-year-old FedEx delivery driver Tanner Lynn Horner. (Wise County Sheriff’s Office)
Horner admitted to abducting Strand while delivering a package to her father’s home in Paradise, a town of fewer than 500 people about 60 miles northwest of Dallas. Her body was found on Dec. 2 two days after she was reported missing less than 10 miles away from the property.
Horner, authorities said, was delivering a package of Barbie dolls intended to be Strand’s Christmas present. Athena was set to return to Oklahoma with her mother after the holidays and had been staying with her father, Jacob Strand, and stepmother, Ashley Strand, in Wise County.
According to the arrest warrant, Horner told investigators that he strangled the 7-year-old after accidentally hitting her with his van while making a delivery at her father’s home. He said Strand wasn’t seriously hurt after he hit her while backing up, but he panicked and put her in his van.
Athena’s stepmother, Ashley Strand, testified on Tuesday, April 7 about their family’s home in the small city of Paradise, in Wise County. She said they lived in a rural area that didn’t get much traffic. (POOL via KDFW-TV)
On Tuesday, Ashley Strand testified sharing the immediate aftermath when she realized that her stepdaughter had vanished.
“I thought maybe she was just hiding somewhere,” her stepmom said.
The only thing she noticed that was unusual or out of place on the property was a package from Walmart containing Barbie dolls that she had ordered for Athena as a Christmas present. It had been dropped off in front of an abandoned trailer that was on the property.
Former FedEx delivery driver Tanner Horner was dropping off a box of Barbies — a Christmas present for Athena Strand— to her father’s home on Nov. 30, 2022. (Varghese and Summersett Law Group)
Athena was reported missing, and eventually an Amber Alert was issued, leading to 72 hours of searching.
Wise County’s former Sheriff Lane Akin also testified, sharing that the search efforts for the 7-year-old was a grassroots effort with community members standing “shoulder to shoulder” with police.
“I’ll never forget the morning of Dec. 1, citizens came from all parts of Wise County to help us find that child. And we put them to work with our deputies, with our investigators, with our game wardens. It was shoulder to shoulder. We had what we estimated was about 300 citizens and they brought their 4-wheelers. Some brought horses. Some brought dogs,” Akin said. “I appreciate the fact that so many people came out to help us that day.”
Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
News
HIS RESPONSE… STILL RAISING QUESTIONS. Authorities aren’t involved—but viewers are dissecting every word Paul said. Investigators say his reaction appeared calm… almost detached. Sources close to the situation suggest this wasn’t the first time the topic came up. But here’s the twist… His answer didn’t close the conversation—it opened more questions. About commitment… timing… and what’s really happening behind the scenes. And now, fans are noticing details they missed before… The truth may be more complicated than it seems… 📌 Full story in the comments
“Please cut this scene!” Sam Faiers burst into tears and pleaded, but it was already too late… Even though she already has three children, Sam Faiers is still hoping for a proposal from her partner Paul “Please cut this scene!” Sam Faiers burst into tears and pleaded, but it was already too late… Even though […]
A CHILD LEFT WITH QUESTIONS… NO ONE CAN ANSWER. Maddie’s grief is being described as “shattering”… Authorities aren’t involved—but those close to the family say the impact is profound. Investigators note how sudden loss can leave gaps… emotional and unanswered. Reports suggest Maddie continues asking the same question… again and again. But here’s the twist… There are parts of this story she may not yet understand. And perhaps others the public doesn’t either… Something about this feels incomplete… 📌 Full story in the comments
How Mel Schilling’s daughter could be tackling ‘exposed’ grief amid death of Married at First Sight star at 54 A child psychologist shares her expert advice for supporting a child navigating the loss of a parent following the death of the Married at First Sight star © Getty Images Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling tragically […]
THE RUMORS WON’T STOP… Social media is buzzing about Craig Melvin’s marriage… But there’s no verified report confirming any split. Still, the silence is what’s catching attention… And many are questioning whether there’s more to the story… 📌 Full story in the comments
The Truth About Craig Melvin’s Absence on the ‘Today’ Show Craig Melvin is one of the main faces on the Today show, and fans have come to expect him on their TV screens every weekday morning. Along with being the co-anchor during the primetime hours on the NBC morning series, Craig also loves to chat it up on […]
THREE WORDS… AND SHE WALKS OFF AIR. Savannah Guthrie has returned to television… But with a hidden protocol in place. Sources say if breaking news comes in… Producers will quietly tell her she’s “needed off set.” Investigators note this is a signal… Something serious has just happened. A chilling system behind the scenes… suggesting the case is far from over… 📌 Full story in the comments
Savannah Guthrie’s 3-Word Secret Code Word That Would ‘Pull Her Immediately’ Off the Air Amid Her Mom’s ‘Nightmare’ Abduction Savannah Guthrie’s 3-Word Secret Code Word That Would ‘Pull Her Immediately’ Off the Air Amid Her Mom’s ‘Nightmare’ Abduction Key takeawaysPowered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This […]
IT HAPPENED INSIDE THE SAME CABIN… Reports confirm Anna was sharing a room… With someone investigators quickly focused on. Authorities are now looking into what happened that night… Inside a space that should have been safe. Sources say the cause of death was asphyxiation… Raising disturbing questions about those final moments. What really happened behind that door… is still being uncovered… 📌 Full story in the comments
Florida teenager charged with sexually assaulting and killing stepsister on cruise ship Anna Kepner’s body was found concealed under bed in a room she shared with two teens, including stepbrother A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and aggravated sexual abuse in Florida in the 6 November death of his 18-year-old stepsister on a Carnival cruise […]
180 MPH… AND STILL GROWING. Reports suggest Sinlaku reached near-maximum intensity… Fueled by unusually warm ocean waters. Meteorologists say the storm gained strength at a rapid pace… Jumping dramatically in just 24 hours. Sources describe this as a dangerous signal… A storm reaching its peak too quickly. An unexpected surge… that’s hard to ignore… 📌 Full story in the comments
Cat 5 Super Typhoon Sinlaku the 2nd-strongest typhoon so early in the year The only typhoon this strong that occurred earlier in any calendar year was Super Typhoon Hester on Jan. 1, 1953. Super Typhoon Sinlaku at 5:30 p.m. EDT Apr. 12, 2026. At the time, Sinlaku was at peak intensity with 180 mph […]
End of content
No more pages to load
