Tanner Horner Sentenced to Death for Killing 7-Year-Old Athena Strand in Texas

The man accused of kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Athena Strand in Texas is now facing the ultimate criminal penalty after a case that devastated the girl’s family and drew national attention.

Tanner Lynn Horner, a former contract delivery driver for FedEx, was sentenced to death on May 5, 2026, after pleading guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. A jury in Tarrant County decided his punishment following weeks of testimony and evidence about the November 2022 crime.

A Package Delivery That Ended in Tragedy

Athena disappeared from her family’s home in Paradise, Texas, on November 30, 2022. Horner had been at the home delivering a package containing a Christmas gift for the child.

Investigators said Horner took Athena into his delivery van. He initially claimed that he had accidentally struck her with the vehicle and panicked, but evidence presented in court contradicted parts of that account.

According to prosecutors, Horner abducted the child and killed her before leaving her body near the Trinity River. Athena was reported missing, prompting an extensive search. Her body was found two days later.

Guilty Plea and Death Sentence

Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping on April 7, 2026, just as his trial was set to begin. The proceedings then shifted to the punishment phase, during which jurors heard testimony from family members and examined evidence presented by prosecutors and the defense.

On May 5, the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty. Jurors concluded that Horner posed a continuing danger and that mitigating circumstances did not warrant a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Horner’s attorneys filed an appeal shortly after the sentence was imposed. The case will therefore continue through the required legal review process.

A Family Continues to Grieve

Athena’s death left her family and community struggling with an irreversible loss. Her case also prompted wider discussions about child safety and the circumstances under which delivery workers enter private homes.

Although the death sentence marks a major milestone in the criminal proceedings, the appeals process remains an important part of the case.

Sources:

• Fox News
• CBS News
• FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth