A Texas jury on Tuesday sentenced the FedEx driver who admitted to murdering seven-year-old Athena Strand to death.
Tanner Horner, who confessed last month to killing the young girl in 2022, stood expressionless as Judge George Gallagher delivered the sentence.
“It is therefore the order of this court that your punishment be death,” Gallagher said.
Strand’s naked body was found in a creek on December 2, 2022, just about 40 miles north of the courtroom where Horner learned his fate. The judge said the execution would be carried out by legal injection “before the hour of sunrise” at a future date.
After the verdict, Athena’s uncle, Elijah Strand, addressed Horner directly while fighting back tears.
“You did not just take a life, you destroyed a family,” he said. “You will be judged. You will face the wrath of God. And I want you to know that you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena’s story. Her name will forever be celebrated and everyone will forget you.”
Horner looked toward Strand as he spoke but otherwise showed little reaction in court.
Tuesday’s sentencing concluded a case that has devastated the Strand family since 2022. Horner was working as a FedEx delivery driver when he went to Athena’s father’s home. He told investigators he accidentally struck the child with his truck while backing out of the driveway, per CBS News.
According to investigators, Horner said Athena did not appear seriously injured, but he panicked, placed her in his vehicle, and strangled her out of fear she would tell her dad what happened.
Horner pleaded guilty to his capital murder and kidnapping charges on April 7, just before his trial was set to begin. The case then moved into a two-week sentencing phase.
Dallas television station WFAA had access inside the courtroom during the sentencing hearings, where audio played of Horner strangling Athena inside the vehicle. At one point, Horner told Athena to take her shirt off, and she replied: “My mom says that you can’t do that to me.”
She started to scream as the sounds of Horner slamming her into the floor of his truck echoed through the courtroom, according to The Post.
Christmas songs can be heard on the FedEx truck’s radio. Horner sang along to “Jingle Bell Rock” as he strangled her with his bare hands, per the outlet.
Horner returned to the area the following day as search efforts were underway and denied any knowledge of the child’s disappearance, authorities said.
Under Texas law, the death sentence will automatically be appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.