Tanner Horner is facing a potential death sentence for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Stand, who disappeared from her Texas home on November 30, 2022. Horner, who pleaded guilty to the young girl’s murder, is standing trial so the jury can determine whether he should be given capital punishment.

Kidnapping of Athena Strand

Athena lived at home with her father, stepmother, and sister. She was sorting laundry in a converted storage shed where she and her sister slept when she was taken. Around 6:41 p.m. on November 30, 2022, Athena’s stepmother, Elizabeth Strand, called the police after they were unable to find her. 

Investigators determined the FedEx truck that delivered a package to the Strand home that day was around the time Athena disappeared. Upon further investigation, they found that the product company, Big Topspin, was contracting with FedEx for deliveries. With that information, they found video footage from the van that delivered the girls’ Christmas present. 

The video footage showed a man, later identified as Horner, speaking with the little girl as she stood upright in the back of the truck. The full-length video and audio were played for jurors at the end of last week, leaving them in tears. 

Defense Calls Witnesses

Shortly after the trial began last week, Horner pleaded guilty to aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a person under 10 years old. Since his plea, the jury has been solely tasked with determining whether he should face the death penalty at sentencing. 

Horner’s defense is working tirelessly to make him seem like an incompetent buffoon who was unaware of what he had done, that his disabilities serve as an excuse, or that his rough upbringing led him to it. 

Friends, Family, Pastor

Several witnesses testified to their experiences and relationships with Tanner Horner off-camera. The mother of one of Horner’s friends testified that both of the children were bullied, and a separate friend, Jay,  said he met him in 2014 and was shocked when he heard the news. 

Jay described the defendant as a goofball and would hit himself several times before thinking about harming anyone else.

Even Horner’s best friend and ex-partner, Ruby, testified in his defense. She said they had known one another since the fifth grade and hung out often–on the playground, at church–and described him as energetic and sweet. She said he never treated her badly or was violent, but said he got mad when they broke up in High School.

Horner’s former pastor, Gary, said he was a “loner trying to find his place.” He described the defendant as a kid like any other, and he was a part of the youth ministry. He started as a good role model, but after the VA changed his medication, he became angry and would carry a bag with knives in it.

Expert Witnesses

Defense also brought in many expert witnesses, including Dr. Eileen Ryan, who conducted a comprehensive forensic psychiatric evaluation on the defendant and found him to be mentally ill and extremely suicidal, noting his failed attempts.

Dr. Ryan also heard firsthand about the gruesome crime that Horner committed. “He tried to kill her by breaking her neck. Then he choked her,” Ryan recalled the defendant telling her in one of their sessions.

“She was still alive after he choked her. He could hear her breathing. He did another line of coke,” Ryan continued. Upon cross-examination, the prosecution clarified, “So he told you that he used physical blows, whatever his description was, with his fists and his feet?”

Ryan responded in the affirmative and said she believed Horner was lying about why Athena was gagging. “I believe that he was attempting to have her perform oral sex,” she said.

The overall consensus between all witnesses called up to the stand by the defense is that Horner, like many others, had a troubled upbringing, horrible role models, cognitive and behavioral issues, but still senselessly murdered a little girl and was found competent to stand trial.