More than four years after the heartbreaking murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand, the man convicted of killing her has lost his latest attempt to overturn his case.
A Texas judge has denied former FedEx driver Tanner Horner’s request for a new trial, leaving his death sentence in place after one of the state’s most disturbing child murder cases.
Horner pleaded guilty earlier this year to kidnapping and murdering Athena in November 2022 after delivering a package to her family’s home in Paradise, Texas. The trial then focused solely on whether he should receive life in prison or the death penalty. After hearing weeks of testimony and emotional evidence, jurors deliberated for only about three hours before unanimously choosing death.
His attorneys later argued that intense media coverage prevented him from receiving a fair trial, claiming potential witnesses were intimidated and publicity unfairly influenced the proceedings. But the judge did not grant the request before the legal deadline, effectively denying the motion for a new trial. Horner’s case will now continue through Texas’ automatic death penalty appeals process.
The case devastated communities across the country. Athena had disappeared while playing outside her home before investigators discovered she had been abducted during Horner’s delivery route. Prosecutors presented evidence showing the 7-year-old was kidnapped and murdered shortly afterward, making the case one of the most heartbreaking crimes in recent Texas history.
Although legal appeals are expected to continue for years, the latest ruling means the conviction and death sentence remain intact—for now. For Athena’s family, however, no court decision can undo the loss of a little girl whose life ended far too soon. 💔
