Prosecutors seek death penalty for Athena Strand,7, murderer trends now
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the Texas FedEx driver accused of kidnapping and strangling a seven-year-old girl while delivering her Barbie Doll Christmas gifts.
Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, was arrested and charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the death of Athena Strand. Horner is currently being held in the Wise County Jail on $1.5 million bond.
Earlier this week, District Attorney James Stainton filed court documents in federal court informing the judge that he will seek the death penalty against Horner if he is found guilty of capital murder.
Under Texas law, capital murder of a person under ten years old qualifies the perpetrator for the death penalty.
Horner confessed to the heinous crime while he was delivering gifts to the family's North Texas home. He told investigators that he accidentally hit Athena with his truck on November 30, 'panicked' before grabbing her and putting her in the vehicle.
Fearing what would happen if he told her parents, he strangled her inside the truck and dumped her body seven miles from her home, beside a country road. She was found on December 2, 2022 in Wise County, Texas- just weeks away from Christmas.
Athena Strand, 7, was kidnapped and strangled on November 30, 2022 by a contracted FedEx worker delivering gifts to her family home in North Texas
Tanner Lynn Horner, 31, was arrested and charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the death of Athena Strand. Horner is currently being held in the Wise County Jail on a $1.5 million bond
Horner was arrested December 2, 2022 the same day Athena's body was found. He confessed to police that he abducted and kidnapped the child during a delivery to her family's home.
Earlier this week, District Attorney James Stainton(pictured) filed court documents in federal court informing the judge that he will seek the death penalty against Horner if he is found guilty of capital murder
On February 17, a jury in Wise County formally charged Horner with kidnapping and murdering the young girl.
Police have told prosecutors they want them to seek the death penalty, according to NBC5. If convicted, Horner faces either execution or life in prison.
Strand's mother, Maitlyn Gandy, released a statement on the indictment.
'I would like to thank the Wise County grand jury for their role in this process. Hearing the facts and circumstances of my 7-year-old daughter's kidnapping and murder
