Tanner Lynn Horner, the former FedEx driver convicted of the 2022 kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand in Texas, has been sentenced to death by lethal injection. The verdict was delivered by a Tarrant County jury on May 5, 2026, following emotional testimony from the victim’s family and detailed evidence presented by prosecutors.
Horner, 33, pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping earlier this year, avoiding a lengthy trial but facing the full weight of Texas law. The case drew national attention due to the shocking nature of the crime and Horner’s employment as a delivery driver at the time of the incident.
According to court records, Athena Strand disappeared from her home in Paradise, Texas, in November 2022. Investigators later determined that Horner abducted her while delivering a package to her residence. Her body was found two days later, sparking widespread outrage and grief across the country.
ALERT: Jury broke down in tears today while footage of Tanner Horner killing 7-year-old Athena Strand was played.
They were also shown footage of Horner telling his boss that he had “thrown up” in the truck, requesting the same vehicle the next day.
The footage of the abduction… pic.twitter.com/r8h7Uso9f7
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) April 16, 2026
Horner Qualifies for the Death Penalty
During the trial Collin Rugg reported the following:
FedEx driver who is accused of abducting and strangling a seven-year-old girl, puts his face in his hand as a photo is displayed of him driving her to her death.
7-year-old Athena Strand was seen standing behind Tanner Horner in his FedEx truck.
Athena was allegedly snatched by Horner when he was delivering a Barbie doll to her home in Paradise, Texas.
Horner initially claimed that he accidentally hit the girl with the truck before “panicking” and pulling her into the vehicle.
He said he then strangled her in the vehicle and dumped the body 7 miles from the home.
The photo, however, shows that Athena was alert in the truck and did not appear to have been struck by the truck.
Wise County District Attorney James Stainton says the jury will see footage on the day of the killing, depicting the moment Athena was strangled to death.
“Somebody covered up the camera because they don’t want you to see. Guess what? Audio is still running, and you’re going to hear it. You’re going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child,” he said.
“And when I say it’s horrible, I mean it. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I promise you, buckle up.”
Horner qualifies for the death penalty.
NEW: FedEx driver who is accused of abducting and strangling a seven-year-old girl, puts his face in his hand as a photo is displayed of him driving her to her death.
7-year-old Athena Strand was seen standing behind Tanner Horner in his FedEx truck.
Athena was allegedly… pic.twitter.com/MMTupcjf3o
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 7, 2026
JUST IN: New body-cam video shows moment FedEx driver Tanner Horner was arrested for abducting and strangling 7-year-old Athena Strand to death while delivering her Christmas present
Tanner Horner told police that Athena Strand was already dead when he put her in his truck… https://t.co/l7g75rlEFu pic.twitter.com/T3HIutZUZh
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) April 8, 2026
When is the Execution Date?
While Horner has been sentenced to death, an official execution date has not yet been scheduled. Under Texas law, death sentences undergo an automatic appeals process, which can take several years before an execution is carried out. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice will determine the date once all appeals and legal reviews are completed.
The Strand family expressed relief at the verdict, describing it as a step toward justice for Athena. “We will never get her back, but we hope this brings some peace,” her mother said outside the courthouse.
“There are no words that truly capture the devastation that Tanner Horner caused us and our family,” Elijah Strand, Athena’s uncle, said in court after the death sentence was read.”It was the best thing to see her running up to me with her arms open, yelling ‘Uncle Elijah,’ and it’s one of my last memories I have of her,” Strand said. “And now I get to never hear that again.”
Horner remained standing, expressionless, as State District Judge George Gallagher pronounced the sentence—death by lethal injection, to be carried out before sunrise on a date yet to be determined in Huntsville.
The former FedEx driver remains on death row at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas, where he will await the outcome of his appeals before an execution date is set.
Image Source
- Tanner Horner: (TDCJ)
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