“A CHRISTMAS SONG AND A CHILD’S LAST QUESTION…” 😢 — THE TRAGIC MOMENT ATHENA STRAND ASKED HER KILLER While the FedEx driver sang “Jingle Bell Rock,” Athena, in her pain, asked him one innocent question. What was the question that no one should have to ask their killer?

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20/04/2026

FedEx Driver Who Killed Athena Strand Sang ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ as He Murdered Her

Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping after abducting Strand from her driveway in late 2022

Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver charged with kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Athena Strand in 2022, walks into the courtroom during the first day of his capital murder trial at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, TX, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Athena Strand.

Tanner Horner; Athena Strand. Credit :

Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News via Getty; Wise County Sheriff’s Department

NEED TO KNOW

Prosecutors played chilling audio evidence in court showing Tanner Horner singing as Athena Strand screamed in pain
Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and kidnapping after abducting Strand from her driveway in Paradise, Texas
Jurors will decide if Horner receives the death penalty or life in prison without parole

Tanner Horner was heard singing a Christmas song while murdering 7-year-old Athena Strand in late 2022.

Prosecutors played a video from the day of Strand’s abduction and murder on Nov. 30, 2022, in the courtroom on Thursday, April 16, in Fort Worth, Texas. According to ABC-affiliate WFAA, the video, which was captured via the FedEx truck’s surveillance camera, contained audio of the former driver singing “Jingle Bell Rock” as the young girl screamed in pain.

The beginning of the recording showed Horner lifting Strand into the back of the truck and shutting the door, WFAA reported. After he got in the truck, she asked him, “Where are you taking me?” He then covered the camera lens, although the recording still captured the audio.

Defendant Tanner Horner returns to the courtroom during his capital murder trial on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, Texa

Tanner Horner in the courtroom on April 16, 2026 at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Amanda McCoy/Star-Telegram via AP

About 30 minutes into the recording, “Jingle Bell Rock” came on the radio and Horner began to sing along, per WFAA. Strand screamed and moaned in pain while he sang. He proceeded to threaten her, saying, “Shut up. If you don’t shut up, I will hurt you worse.”

Prior to the interaction, Horner told Strand to take off her shirt and she asked for her mother. She also asked if he was a kidnapper. The video contained audio of the girl choking, as well as indistinct banging in the truck.

Strand’s parents left the courtroom before the video was played, per WFAA.

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On April 7, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping after abducting Strand from her driveway while delivering a Christmas package to the home where she was staying with her father and stepmother in the town of Paradise, Texas.

Her body was found two days later about 9 miles away, and jurors are now tasked with deciding whether Horner will be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

Athena Strand.

Athena Strand. Texas EquuSearch Facebook

Video from inside Horner’s FedEx truck the day after the murder showed him attempting to drive through a residential road lined with vehicles while volunteers and law enforcement searched for Strand, CBS News reported.

The video, also shown in court on April 16, showed him complaining he couldn’t get through before rolling down his window and speaking with a woman nearby.

News

“HIS CO-WORKERS SAW HIM AS THE IDEAL DRIVER… BUT NO ONE COULD EVER GUESS THE TRUTH” 😱 Before his arrest, Tanner Horner was known for his good reputation at FedEx, but his terrifying actions exposed a completely different side. What was it that no one saw coming? What happened behind the scenes?

Killer FedEx driver’s chilling searches about his delivery truck after murdering 7-year-old Athena Strand revealed Killer FedEx driver Tanner Horner Googled to see if the cameras in his truck “constantly record” after he murdered 7-year-old Athena Strand, a jury in Texas has heard. The day after he strangled the girl and dumped her body, Horner […]

“SHE SPOKE OUT AFTER THE HORROR…” 😨 — TANNER HORNER’S WIFE AND SON REVEAL WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT HIS UNSPEAKABLE CRIME His wife and son finally broke their silence… but what they said about the heinous crime shocked everyone. What did they really think of Tanner Horner’s actions?

This is the house of the murderer of Athena Strand. I’m not saying his name, he doesn’t deserve to have one. She was the 7 year old SAed and murdered by a FedEx driver here in Texas. *Please refrain from commenting or liking the individual pictures. You will put pictures of trash on your friends […]

“ARE YOU A KIDN@PPER…?” 😢 — HER QUESTION CHANGED EVERYTHING IN THOSE FINAL MOMENTS 7-year-0ld Athena Strand tried something incredibly brave to stay alive… and she almost made it out of that truck. But what happened next is what people can’t stop thinking about…

Chilling audio of Athena Strand’s final moments moves jurors to tears Disturbing recordings of a 7-year-old child’s final moments left jurors visibly distraught on Thursday, April 16, during the sentencing trial of an ex-FedEx driver accused of kidnapping and strangling the young girl. Tanner Lynn Horner, 34, pleaded guilty on April 7 to capital murder […]

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Athena Strand Was Kidnapped and Killed After a FedEx Driver Made a Delivery at Her Home. Inside the Case and Her Killer’s Plea Athena Strand was 7 years old when she was kidnapped and killed in late November 2022 Athena Strand; Tanner Lynn Horner. Credit : Texas EquuSearch/Facebook; AP/Shutterstock NEED TO KNOW Athena Strand was […]

“HOW MANY WERE THERE BEFORE HER…?” 😰 — NEW CLAIMS ABOUT THE FEDEX DRIVER’S PAST IGNITE OUTRAGE Athena Strand may not have been the only victim… and the identities of two others are now raising serious questions. What really happened before this case came to light?

Before He Killed Athena Strand, 2 Accusers Say FedEx Driver Sexually Assaulted Them as Girls One woman testified she was 16 years old when Tanner Horner assaulted her twice, telling jurors she “felt guilt” for not coming forward before he pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand Former FedEx driver Tanner […]

“THIS IS BEYOND DISTURBING…” — HE SANG AND CHANGED THE LYRICS WHILE ATHENA SCREAMED 😨 As the child cried out, he kept singing… but not the original version. What he turned that song into is now sparking outrage everywhere…

Killer sang ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ as Athena Strand screamed: Reports FORT WORTH, Texas (Court TV) — Shocking and disturbing evidence played out in a Texas courtroom on Thursday as jurors were forced to hear a 7-year-old girl’s final moments. Tanner Horner sits in court during his trial on April 16, 2026. (Court TV) Tanner Lynn […]

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