A highly publicized and emotional capital murder trial is underway in Tarrant County.
Tanner Horner, who is accused of the 2022 death of 7-year-old Athena Strand, pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping just moments before the trial began. Despite his guilty plea, Horner still faces the death penalty as the punishment phase begins.
The prosecution wrapped up its case pursuing the death penalty last week. Among the intense moments, the jury heard testimony from both of Strand’s parents, and prosecutors played graphic audio of Strand’s final moments.
On Wednesday, the defense will begin presenting its case for Horner to avoid execution. They are expected to call numerous expert witnesses to testify about Horner’s mental health and medical history.
The murder of Athena Strand
According to an arrest affidavit, Horner was working as a FedEx delivery driver when, on Nov. 30, 2022, he went to the girl’s home to deliver a package containing a Christmas gift. Investigators say Horner accidentally struck the child with his delivery truck while backing out of the driveway.
Authorities allege Horner told investigators that Athena did not appear seriously injured but said he panicked, placed her into his van and strangled her out of fear that she would tell her father what had happened.
Horner was subsequently tracked down through digital evidence that day.
Two days later, Strand’s body was found about 9 miles away from her home, southeast of Boyd.
How to watch the Tanner Horner trial
You can watch the trial live on the CBS Texas YouTube channel.. Coverage will begin around 9 a.m. daily.
Horner was indicted on Feb. 16, 2023, for aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a person under the age of 10.
Wise County District Attorney James Stainton previously said he intends to seek the death penalty. Horner pleaded not guilty to aggravated kidnapping and capital murder in 2023.
News
The family of the American millionaire shared their last 5-minute call with him before the elephant att@ck, saying they fa!nted when they heard the news
Ernie Dosio was hunting antelope in Gabon at the time of the fatal incident Ernie Dosio, 2017.Credit : Wagonhound Outfitters/Facebook An American millionaire and big-game hunter has died following an encounter with elephants in Gabon, according to multiple reports. Ernie Dosio, 75, a California vineyard owner known for his extensive trophy hunting collection, was on a […]
New Legal Battle: As Brian Hooker’s lawyer presents his defense, the opposing side rejects it, saying their evidence leaves no room for denial
Brian Hooker calmly … very calmly … explained what happened to his wife just days after she went missing near the Bahamas in a new video obtained by TMZ. The clip — taken on Monday, April 6 — two days after Lynette disappeared and two days before Hooker was questioned by the Royal Bahamas Police Force — shows […]
New Evidence: Unbelievable brain scan results in Tanner Horner’s case are raising questions about a possible legal outc0me sh!ft
FORT WORTH, Texas – Jurors returned to a Tarrant County courtroom on Friday to weigh a death sentence for Tanner Horner. Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and kidnapping in the 2022 death of 7-year-old Athena Strand. He admitted to abducting the girl while delivering a package to her Wise County home on Nov. 30, 2022. The […]
C0ntr0versial Behavior: The suspect in the Jaden Pierre case is facing backlash after repeatedly performing a pr0v0cative act
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the arrest of 18-year-old Zahir Davis on Saturday New York City Police Department (NYPD) detectives arrested Zahir Davis, 18, on Friday night following an urgent search for the person who gunned down a child at a Queens playground earlier this month, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced in a Saturday X […]
Tense Operation: Police bodycam video shows a more than 2-hour pursuit of the suspect in the Jaden Pierre case
New York City police have arrested the suspected gunman in the murder of 15-year-old Jaden Pierre, who was fatally shot at a park in St. Albans, Queens. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said 18-year-old Zahir Davis fled to Jamaica after the shooting, and that he was taken into custody Friday night when his return flight landed. […]
New Discovery: Investigators found a letter from the suspect 1 km from the scene, and the closing lines refer to his mother
QUEENS – A Queens community is reeling after a 15-year-old boy was fatally shot Thursday evening, as loved ones prepared to gather for a vigil in his memory. What we know: The victim, identified as Jaden Pierre, was shot around 6:15 p.m. near Merrick Boulevard and Baisley Boulevard in Jamaica, according to the NYPD’s Deputy […]
End of content
No more pages to load
