FedEx Driver's Disturbing Courtroom Confession Over Athena Strand Murder
In a chilling courtroom revelation, the FedEx delivery driver who admitted to murdering seven-year-old Athena Strand has disclosed the final words he spoke to the terrified child before her death. During a hearing in Fort Worth on Thursday, Tanner Horner, 34, stated he told Strand, 'Just get in the back of the van, we're going to go to the hospital', prior to allegedly strangling her. This case has sent shockwaves through the community of Paradise, Texas, where the abduction occurred in November 2022.
Horner's Account of the Fatal Incident and Alter Ego 'Zero'
According to arrest warrants and court testimony, Horner was delivering a package of Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift for Athena when the tragedy unfolded. He claimed to authorities that he accidentally struck the child with his van while reversing during the delivery. Although Athena was not seriously injured, Horner panicked and placed her in his vehicle. He then proceeded to strangle her to death inside the truck, with a microphone capturing her final moments after he covered an internal camera.
During the interrogation, which lasted over two hours, Horner described a disturbing psychological episode where an alter ego he called 'Zero' took control. 'He told her, 'Just get in the back of the van, we're going to go to the hospital,'' Horner recounted, asserting that Zero was responsible for the killing. He expressed confusion over this split personality, stating, 'I didn't do it, but he did, and that's what f***s with me... I'm wondering who the hell's been in my head this whole time.' When investigators asked if Zero 'pulled the trigger', Horner affirmed this notion.
Legal Proceedings and Emotional Testimonies
Horner faces charges of aggravated kidnapping and capital murder for the abduction from Athena's family home, located approximately 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Initially set for trial, he abruptly pleaded guilty to capital murder this week, leading to a sentencing phase where jurors must review graphic evidence to determine an appropriate punishment. The trial was relocated from Wise County to Fort Worth after defense attorneys argued Horner could not receive a fair trial in the rural area.
In opening statements, Horner's attorney, Steven Goble, acknowledged the 'overwhelming' and 'terrible' evidence against his client but urged jurors to consider mitigating factors. Goble highlighted Horner's background, including his mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy, a diagnosis of autism, a history of mental illnesses, and exposure to high levels of lead. He requested a life sentence rather than the death penalty.
Emotional testimony came from Ashley Strand, Athena's stepmother, who revealed the delivered package contained a box of 'You Can Be Anything' Barbies meant as a Christmas gift. She described Athena's joy in living in the countryside, where she could 'run wild and free.' The jury was also shown footage of Horner's arrest on December 30, 2022, and heard how he led investigators to Athena's body.
Horner's Motives and Aftermath
When questioned about his actions, Horner denied being motivated by fear of losing his job or freedom, stating, 'I wasn't worried about the 'losing my freedom' part because, honestly, that's an honest accident.' He suggested that a simple conversation with Athena's parents could have resolved the situation, remarking, 'Like, all it would take is going up there and just talking to the parents, and saying like, 'Hey, I accidentally bumped your daughter. Like, there's more jobs out there, you know what I mean?''
Despite attempts to calm Athena, Horner claimed his alter ego Zero intervened, leading to the fatal outcome. The case continues to unfold as the jury deliberates on sentencing, with the community and nation grappling with the horrific details of this crime.
