Tanner Horner goes on trial after former fedex Driver admits to killing 7-year-old child Texas Girl Athena Strand after giving birth at home. In audio played in front of the jury Thursday during the hearing, Horner can be heard threatening to “hurt” Strand if she tried to overpower him with anything.
Tips for the disturbing nature of the clip Elon MuskThe world’s richest man has called for Horner’s immediate execution.
“Execute him immediately,” Musk wrote in response to a post detailing the day in court. “Jurors were in tears during today’s trial after footage of Horner killing Athena was played, with Horner asking Athena to take off her shirt and saying she was ‘really beautiful.’ Athena asked about her mother multiple times,” the post read. The report quoted the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as saying, “Horner was then heard asking Athena to take off her shirt, and several times she said ‘no’ and asked to see her mother. There were sounds of crying, screaming and banging.”
Jurors also saw footage of Horner being stopped while trying to deliver a package. A woman told him the road was blocked because a “seven-year-old child” had been kidnapped. Horner said, “Are you serious?” ” the post further reads.
Horner faces the death penalty or life in prison for his crimes. He was charged with murder and aggravated kidnapping. Strand was killed in 2022 and her body was found in the small town of Paradise near Fort Worth two days after she was reported missing. Here’s everything you need to know about Tanner Horner.
Tanner Horner: 5 things to know
- Horner was 31 when he was arrested; he is now about 34. Little is known about his early life.
- Horner reportedly lives near Lake Worth, Texas. He does not appear to have a criminal record.
- Horner was working as an independent contractor for FedEx at the time of Strand’s disappearance and murder.
- Horner’s lawyer, Steven Goble, told the court that Horner had “suffered from various mental illnesses throughout his life.” Lawyers also claimed that Horner’s mother drank alcohol during her pregnancy and that the defendant had been exposed to “significant amounts of lead” throughout his life. Texas Ranger Sgt. Job Espinoza also testified that Horner often referred to his alter ego as “Zero.” “His demeanor, physical demeanor changed,” police said.
- Horner had a girlfriend and he called her from jail. He also calls his mother and grandmother. Horner reportedly has a son, Chester. Horner’s phone calls, played in court, also revealed his girlfriend’s name was Cassie.
horner may be hear Lamented that he would never see his son again after the incident. Horner delivered a Christmas present to Strand, who was living with her father, Jacob, and stepmother, Ashley. Prosecutors believe he killed Strand by strangling her with his hands after he put her in the car. It is believed he then dumped her body into the Trinity River.
Horner’s DNA was also found in Strand’s rape kit, which was revealed during the trial. He claimed he had no motive for killing Strand but panicked when he hit her with his van. However, this claim was proven to be untrue as Strand was seen sitting in the van looking fine, contradicting Tanner’s statement that he accidentally hit her with a car.
