A chilling new detail is taking center stage in the murder case of seven-year-old Athena Strand – a moment that captures the terrifying reality of her final minutes.
Tanner Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping just as his trial was set to begin, and is now awaiting sentencing. Horner had been dropping off a package before kidnapping 7-year-old Athena Strand from her father’s home in Texas.
According to an arrest warrant, Horner admitted to grabbing the young girl and putting her in his van, saying he panicked after accidentally backing into her outside the home. Prosecutors, however, claim that Athena was not seriously injured, and that what happened next was therefore a deliberate decision.
As the case moves into its next phase, prosecutors are focusing on what they describe as some of the most disturbing evidence yet, including audio recorded inside Horner’s delivery van. According to prosecutor James Stainton, the first words Horner said to Athena after abducting her were: “Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you.”
“First thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up. Puts her in that truck, leans down, and he says, don’t scream or I’ll hurt you,” Stainton told the court, according to VT.
Athena Strand
During opening statements, jurors were warned about the graphic nature of the evidence. “Buckle up,” prosecutors said, as they outlined what they claim were repeated lies told by Horner during the investigation – except for his admission that he killed Athena.
Instead, prosecutors pointed to multiple pieces of forensic evidence, including Horner’s DNA found under Athena’s fingernails and in what they described as “places where you shouldn’t find DNA.” They also emphasized the extent of Athena’s resistance.
“One thing you’re going to hear that is something you can’t unhear is the level of fight that a seven-year-old girl has,” Stainton said.
“I’ll tell you that little girl right there is a Warrior. She fought with the strength of 100 men.”
Authorities later discovered her body roughly 13 miles away, near the Trinity River.
Horner’s defense team has not argued that he is innocent. Instead, they are focusing on the sentencing phase, attempting to persuade jurors to spare his life. His attorneys told the court that Horner has Asperger’s, was exposed to alcohol before birth, and experienced lead exposure as a child.
“Tanner unfortunately also suffered various mental illnesses throughout his life. He’s been diagnosed and received treatment for and some of those are ongoing. You’ll hear about those issues,” defense attorney Steven Goble said.
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