Tanner Horner Pleads Guilty in Athena Strand Killing; Sentencing Phase Begins in Texas Capital Murder Case
Tanner Horner has pleaded guilty in the 2022 killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand, bringing a sudden turn to a case that had been heading toward a capital murder trial in Tarrant County, Texas. His guilty plea, entered on April 7, 2026, includes charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, moving the proceedings directly into the sentencing phase.
Horner was working as a FedEx delivery driver when prosecutors say he struck Athena Strand outside her Wise County home on November 30, 2022. Investigators allege that after the incident, Horner panicked and took further actions that led to her death. Her body was later discovered several miles away from her home.
Following the plea, a jury is now tasked with determining Horner’s punishment, including whether he will receive the death penalty. Wise County prosecutors have previously stated their intent to seek capital punishment in the case.
During sentencing proceedings, prosecutors outlined evidence they argue shows premeditation, while the defense pointed to Horner’s mental health history, autism diagnosis, and challenging upbringing as mitigating factors, requesting a life sentence without parole instead.
Emotional testimony was also presented in court, including from Athena Strand’s elementary school teacher, who described her as a bright, cheerful child and shared details about her final classroom assignments before her death.
The sentencing phase is ongoing as jurors weigh evidence and testimony to determine Horner’s fate in one of Texas’s most closely followed criminal cases.