Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
child killer Tanner Horner As he brutally murders little children, he sings the holiday song “Jingle Bell Rock” athena strand As Texas jurors continued to hear evidence late Thursday, April 16, they learned what the 35-year-old delivery driver who died in the backseat of his FedEx truck in late 2022 deserved: the death penalty or life in prison.
On April 7, as his criminal trial was about to begin, Horner pleaded guilty to murder and aggravated kidnapping. Horner abducted Athena from her driveway in Paradise, Texas, on November 30, 2022, after he delivered a package to her mother’s house filled with Christmas gifts for her.
According to WFAALast week, he filled the closed courtroom with reporters and played to the jury audio captured by the truck’s security camera; Horner covered the camera’s footage with a Post-it note before the killing.
Reporters say the truck’s radio was on during the 7-year-old’s murder and at one point started playing “Jingle Bell Rock.”
A Missouri woman has been arrested after killing the 8-month-old she was babysitting, with police saying she “aggressively” burped the baby and lied about it while the baby slept. Jennifer Johnson was sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder after being convicted by a Boone County jury in January, according to the court (…)
Horner can be heard in the audio singing along to the tune, but was drowned out by the girl’s screams, WFAA reported. He eventually yelled at the girl to “Shut up!”
Two days after Strand was abducted, her naked body was found in a nearby river.
Before killing the girl, Horner asked Athena to take off her shirt. She told him her mother taught her to say “no” to such requests, according to WFAA. Athena asked him if he was the kidnapper and also asked Horner why this happened. He replied that she was beautiful.
Jurors sobbed as the girl’s screams rang out. There was also a loud, vague crashing sound coming from the back of the delivery truck. Prosecutors insist Athena was not sexually assaulted, but the audio appears to suggest otherwise, WFAA reporters insist.
They said there was no doubt sex was taking place.
Footage of Horner driving a FedEx truck after the crime showed him smoking a cigarette.
A Texas man has been sentenced to life in prison after authorities said he continued to sexually abuse a child he allegedly abused before while in prison awaiting a murder trial. Anthony Dewayne Taylor, 46, of Frisco, sentenced on child sex charges, (…)
Prosecutors allege Horner lied about attacking Athena with a FedEx truck and then strangling her to avoid arrest.
Horner was indicted in February 2023 on charges of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder in connection with Athena’s death.
Prosecutors rested their case on Friday, April 17, after showing the disturbing video to the jury.
Proceedings will continue on April 22, when the defense will begin its presentation.
