Tanner Horner: Jurors sob as audio of Athena Strand asking killer heartbreaking question plays in court
The heartbreaking audio of the girl’s final moments was played in court. Warning: Distressing content
Warning: Distressing content
Jurors have broken down sobbing as they listened to the audio of a seven-year-old murder victim asking her killer heartbreaking final questions.
The kidnapping and murder of seven-year-old Athena Strand shocked the United States and made headlines across the world.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Tanner Horner, 34, took Athena on November 30, 2022 from the driveway of a Paradise, Texas home she was staying in while her mother and stepfather were away.
On April 7, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. Working as a FedEx driver back in 2022, he took Athena while delivering a Christmas package.
Her body was found two days after the horrific crime, about 20km from her Boyd, Texas home.
As part of Horner’s sentencing, the jury are being shown evidence to decide whether he should be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole.
One piece of audio played in the courtroom on Thursday was so devastating that the presiding judge told people in court they might need to leave.
“If you think you cannot watch it or listen to it, leave now. Now’s your time to get out,” Judge George Gallagher said.
Having already been shown surveillance footage of Horner arriving at the Paradise home and taking Athena, the next piece of evidence prompted an emotional response.
Video footage from inside Mr Horner’s truck shows the seven-year-old girl kneeling in the back of the car, asking her killer two questions.
“Are you a kidnapper?” little Athena asked, according to NBC.
According to Fox 4, the seven-year-old also asked Horner: “Where are you taking me?”
It’s understood the recording captures Horner telling Athena to sit down before threatening to harm her if she screams.
He asked her about school before saying, “You’re really pretty, you know that?”
The Nightly has chosen not to report the rest of the recording, but jurors were heard sobbing as they listened to it.
In previous hearings, the jury had been warned before being shown distressing evidence.
Wise County District Attorney James Stainton warned the jury that they would hear confronting audio and video evidence captured on the day of the murder.
“You’re going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child. And when I say it’s horrible, I mean it. I’ve been doing this (for) 25 years, and I promise you, buckle up.”
