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The former FedEx driver accused of the 2022 kidnapping and killing of a 7-year-old girl from Wise County pleaded guilty in a Tarrant County court on Tuesday morning.
Tanner Horner told investigators that he accidentally hit the young girl, Athena Strand, with his vehicle shortly after delivering what was meant to be a Christmas present to her home. He kidnapped the girl and then strangled her to death. Several days later, authorities found her body dumped just six miles away.
A trial was set to begin Tuesday morning in a Tarrant County court after being moved from Wise County to ensure a fair judgment. But just moments into the proceedings, Horner pleaded guilty to the charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. He originally pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2023.
Now, a jury will not deliberate over whether or not Horner is guilty of Strand’s killing, and the sentencing phase will begin immediately. Horner could face the death penalty or life in prison for killing Strand.
According to CBS News, Horner entered his guilty plea around 9:30 a.m., at which point the prosecution and defense delivered opening statements. The prosecution warned the jury that the evidence in the case is “rough” and would show what “a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child,” and alleged that Horner warned Strand not to scream after hitting her with his vehicle.
“I want to apologize to y’all for what we’re going to have to bring,” the state said on Tuesday morning. “I think it’s important that you all know the complete story. … we have video of [the murder], and we’re going to show it to you.”
The defense referenced Horner’s unstable home life, autism diagnosis and mental illness in their opening statement. His attorneys have argued that the death penalty should be taken off the table due to Horner’s autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, which they say “reduces his moral blameworthiness.”
CBS News noted that a good portion of the courtroom during Tuesday’s proceedings wore pink in support of Strand.
