Former Delivery Driver Sentenced to Death for Killing 7-Year-Old Girl

FORT WORTH, TX — A former FedEx driver has been sentenced to death after being found guilty in the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand.

On Tuesday, May 5, a Texas jury sentenced Tanner Horner to death by lethal injection.

On Nov. 30, 2022, Strand was abducted from her home in Paradise, Texas. Her body was discovered two days later when Horner led investigators to her. He was charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.

Horner pled guilty on April 7, 2026, the first day of the trial, which took it straight to the punishment phase of either life in prison or death. After about three weeks, the Tarrant County jury determined Horner should receive the death penalty.

Horner’s trial was moved to Tarrant County from Wise County, where the murder took place, due to questions about him receiving a fair trial. 

As is standard in death penalty cases, Horner has been granted an automatic appeal.

Investigators said Horner accidentally struck Strand with his delivery truck when he was leaving her home after delivering a package. 

Horner said the girl didn't appear seriously injured, but he panicked and placed her into his van and strangled her out of fear she would tell someone what happened.