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A harrowing photo shows 7-year-old Athena Strand before prosecutors say she was run over by a FedEx driver who abducted her and killed her while delivering her Christmas present.
The photo, released by prosecutors on Tuesday, shows a girl standing behind Tanner Horner on the day he was strangled in Texas in November 2022.
In the black and white photo, Athena appears uncomfortable as Horner focuses on the road ahead.
A newly released photo shows seven-year-old Athena Strand shortly before prosecutors say she was kidnapped and killed by a FedEx driver delivering her Christmas present. (POOL via KDFW-TV)
Horner, 34, a former truck driver accused of kidnapping and strangling a 7-year-old child after hitting her with his van in 2022, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in a Tarrant County courtroom Tuesday morning.
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When the jury was finally seated Tuesday morning to begin his trial, Tarrant County Judge George Gallagher asked Horner to stand.
“Mr. Horner, in the case of murder, you may or may not plead guilty. What is your plea?” asked the judge.
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“Guilty, your honor,” Horner replied.
“Thank you. I will accept your request,” said the judge.
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Authorities say Athena Strand, 7, was kidnapped and killed by 30-year-old FedEx driver Tanner Lynn Horner. (Wise County Sheriff’s Office)
Horner admitted to kidnapping Strand while delivering a package to her father’s home in Paradise, a town of fewer than 500 people about 60 miles northwest of Dallas. Her body was found on December 2 two days after she was reported missing about 10 miles away.
Horner, authorities said, was delivering a package of Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas present for Strand. Athena is set return to Oklahoma with his mother after the holidays and lived with his father, Jacob Strand, and stepmother, Ashley Strand, in Wise County.
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According to the arrest warrant, Horner told investigators that he strangled a 7-year-old child after hitting him with a pickup truck while he was going to make a delivery at his father’s house. He said Strand was not seriously injured after hitting him as he backed up, but panicked and put him in his van.
Athena’s stepmother, Ashley Strand, testified Tuesday, April 7 about their home in the small town of Paradise, Wise County. He said they live in a rural area that doesn’t get much traffic. (POOL via KDFW-TV)
On Tuesday, Ashley Strand testified to discuss the aftermath of realizing her stepdaughter had disappeared.
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“I thought maybe he was hiding somewhere,” said his stepmother.
The only thing she noticed that was unusual or out of place was a package from Walmart that contained the Barbie dolls Athena had ordered as a Christmas present. It was dumped in front of a trailer that was left in the area.
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Former FedEx delivery driver Tanner Horner was dropping off a box of Barbies — Athena Strand’s Christmas present — at her father’s house on Nov. 30, 2022. (Varghese and Summersett Law Group)
Athena was reported missing, and an Amber Alert was eventually issued, leading to a 72-hour search.
Former Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin also testified, sharing that the search for the 7-year-old child was a grassroots effort with members of the public standing “shoulder to shoulder” with the police.
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“I’ll never forget the morning of December 1st, citizens came from all over Wise County to help us find that baby. And we put them to work with our deputies, and our investigators, and our animal wardens. It was shoulder to shoulder. We had what we estimate was about 300 residents and they brought their 4 wheelers. Some brought horses. Some brought dogs,” said Akin. “I am thankful that many people came out to help us that day.”
Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
