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Former FedEx driver sentenced to death for killing 7-year-old girl

Former FedEx driver sentenced to death for killing 7-year-old girl

Summary

A former FedEx driver in Texas, Tanner Horner, was sentenced to death for killing a 7-year-old girl named Athena Strand in 2022. He pleaded guilty to capital murder after abducting the girl while delivering a Christmas gift to her home.

Key Facts

  • Tanner Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to capital murder for killing Athena Strand.
  • The crime happened in Paradise, Texas, near Fort Worth, in November 2022.
  • Athena’s body was found two days after she was reported missing.
  • Jurors sentenced Horner to death, concluding he is a continuing threat to society.
  • Evidence included audio recordings from Horner’s delivery van capturing Athena’s last moments.
  • Horner claimed he accidentally hit Athena with his van and then killed her in panic.
  • The medical examiner said Athena died from blunt force injuries, smothering, and strangulation.
  • Horner’s defense mentioned his autism, mental illness, and prenatal exposure to alcohol and lead.
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