The Trial of Tanner Horner: Defense Presents Case for Life Sentence Without Parole
The trial of Tanner Horner, who admitted to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand, is ongoing as defense attorneys present their case. Horner's mother was among the first defense witnesses to testify, focusing on Horner's childhood, autism, and lead exposure. The defense is advocating for a life sentence without parole instead of the death penalty for Horner, who pleaded guilty to capital murder in the course of kidnapping at the start of the prosecution's case.
Horner, a former FedEx driver, abducted and killed Athena after delivering a package to her rural Wise County home. Testimony from the case's lead investigator revealed that Horner fabricated a story about hitting the girl with his van and then strangling her in a panic. The prosecution presented video and audio evidence of Athena's final moments, indicating that Horner planned the kidnapping and murder. Athena died from blunt force trauma, smothering, and strangulation, with Horner discarding her body in the Trinity River.
DNA evidence linked Horner to the crime, as male DNA found on swabs in the victim's sexual assault kit could not exclude him as the source. Horner attributed the girl's death to an alter ego named "Zero" during interviews with investigators. The trial, taking place at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, is expected to extend into early May.
For live coverage of the trial and updates, viewers can watch the proceedings on WFAA-TV and stay tuned to Star-Telegram.com.