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Yesterday (Tuesday 6th of May 2026) was quite an emotional day and it was the end of a journey in a lot of ways, for the family of little angel, Athena Strand. The legal journey had mostly come to an end but the heartbreak and loss of Athena, will never end. The picture above shows a beautiful little girl, cute as a button with an aura of vivaciousness, a little ball of light to all who knew her and you just knew that through the stories and memories of the people who loved her, this little cutiepie was going to have a bright future ahead of her.
This picture was taken just days before she was horrifically snatched from her father and step-mother's porch. She is seen in this picture wearing the matching PJ's that she and her family would wear to be extra festive. It was a tradition for her family to wear matching PJ's to the run up to (and at) Christmas time. It was certainly an exciting time for Athena, she couldn't wait to celebrate Christmas with her loved ones.
Nobody will forget the day that the news broke on the 2nd of December 2022, that a 7 year old girl had been kidnapped by a FedEx delivery driver in broad daylight in Texas, USA. This monster, Tanner Horner was 31 years old at the time and told the terrified youngster that he would harm her if she didn't do what he demanded.
Athena soon found her self in the back of his delivery truck, terrified, confused with no way to escape. She was a tough little girl who fought with all of her might, against this huge, overweight demon. Before he abused and murdered her, he demanded she take off her shirt to which she replied no! He covered up a camera that was in the truck and then proceeded to carry out the most sickening attack and murder on a 7 year old child. He became frustrated when he couldn't carry out his abuse to the full extent, she fought back despite his efforts to get what he wanted. It took him an hour to kill Athena, she fought and she fought for her life against this pathetic, evil and disgusting monster. Eventually he was able to end her life completely. He drove to a location known very well by locals, the Trinity River near an area known as Bobo's crossing. She was nude. He had kept her trousers, underwear, socks and to this day, he has not revealed where he put her shirt.
He just dumped this child's body and went about his business like nothing happened. He smoked a cigarette and sang along to 'Jingle Bell Rock' as it played on the radio. He made a phonecall to his boss to ask if he could keep the truck overnight because he had been sick in it and wanted to clean it up! He drove to a gas station where he obtained cleaning supplies and spent almost 30 minutes cleaning the truck. There was vomit, blood and faeces in the back where he had attacked and murdered Athena. Athena had been in so much terror that she lost control of her bowels. The details of what that beautiful little girl went through will haunt me forever. The monster thought that the audio in the truck was faulty as a he had been having issues with it before. He thought by covering up the camera that his sick crime could be hidden. He was soon proved wrong because the horrific nightmare was recorded piece by piece, loud and clear for anyone who was unfortunate enough to listen to it. That very night of Athena's murder he actually slept with his partner. It was a shock to learn that Tanner actually had a relationship and a son. He even used his son in an attempt to get sympathy by saying that he was scared he wouldn't be around to see his son or spend Christmas with him.
This horrific tape was like a message from beyond the grave from Athena, it told her story, what he did. It showed how evil and sick this monster truly was and what she had gone through at his evil hands. This very tape was played to a packed courtroom a couple of weeks ago in a trial that lasted, almost five weeks. The trial was not to determine whether or not Tanner Horner was guilty, which was already a fact but there was a decision to be made about whether he was to spend the rest of his life in prison or be put to death. After nearly five agonising weeks, a traumatized and exhausted jury decided that Tanner Horner should get the Death Penalty.
I know it's the same old story in regards to how long will he actually be on death row before the date of his death is finally carried out. We've seen it happen plenty of times where murderers have spent decades waiting for their final date. Others pass away before the final part of their sentence if carried out. We know the streets....and children, are safe with this monster behind bars but I also understand that people want to see proper justice done and don't approve of the fact that this monster is currently living off of tax-payers money.
The courtroom was full of Athena's loved ones yesterday and even when the final decision was read out, (to which Tanner expressed no emotion, and didn't do throughout the trial) and Tanner was led away in handcuffs, the family stayed behind. There was a mix of shock, celebration and relief. It was some justice for Athena and her family and certainty that no other child could come to harm again at the evil hands of Tanner Horner.
I don't know if you can ever say that Athena's loving parents, step-parents and family will ever have complete closure. I know it is difficult even when there is DP decision. The fact that he remains alive will bother the family and all who know the full details of this case. When he is finally put to death and the family know that he no longer exists in reality, then it might be the case that they can do some proper healing?
Tanner Horner hasn't shown a shred of remorse since the day that he was caught, he tried every lie and excuse in the book to try and lessen the punishment for his evil crimes. One minute he claimed that he was taking cocaine on the day that he abducted Athena, then he claimed to have ran her over with his truck by mistake and ofcourse, he claimed that he his actions were the result of him being Autistic and then another excuse that he had an alter ego named 'Zero'. I thought his Asperger's syndrome excuse was also appalling and a real disrespect to those who suffer from it. Asperger's syndrome does not cause someone to become a predator of children and a cold calculated murderer. He knew what he was going to do, he planned it, carried it out without breaking a sweat and then tried to cover it up whilst lying through his teeth time and time again. Not long after the murder he actually drove back to the area where he had abducted Athena just hours earlier and saw that there was a huge public and police presence. He had the cold and even more disturbing nerve to ask people what had happened and pretended that he was just an innocent delivery driver going about his every day business.
His level of callousness was off the scale and luckily there was all this evidence there to show him up for who he really was. It won't surprise you to know that Tanner was a bad seed, from before he was even born there was severe problems in his family to do with sexual abuse and neglect. His own mother was abused as a young child by her step-father continuously and actually begged, not only him to stop but also begged and pleaded with her own mother to stop him. She even resorted to putting notices up on her bedroom door begging him not to come into her room at night. Despite the horrendous suffering of her own daughter, his grandmother accused the child of lying and married this paedophile instead. The sexual abuse had begun before their marriage and continued through their marriage, an utterly horrendous situation. So he was from that kind of family where there was no love, empathy or protection especially when it came to children.
With such a messed up home life and the realization that his mother worked as a stripper and sex worker as well as everything else, it was never going to be easy street for Tanner. His mother had no real love for him and all of this caused him to be withdrawn. He claimed to have had Asperger's Syndrome but a lot of his behaviours that he was demonstrating at the time fitted in with more of a child who was being abused at home. His mother's choice of relationships didn't not fare too well for Tanner either and were said to have been violent. Tanner had been sexually abused by older men and he would also go on to sexually abuse young children he knew. There was a lot of disturbing behaviour and trauma before the horrific murder of Athena but that's no excuse.
Athena's Uncle Elijah gave a powerful impact statement in court yesterday where the brave man, through tears, told Tanner Horner exactly what his evil actions had done to himself and his family. Tanner sat there, no emotion as usual, stared at Elijah and didn't even blink. Nobody else spoke. I think everyone was so exhausted and completely drained after so many years of hell that they just wanted to see that monster put back in handcuffs and sent to meet his maker which certainly isn't God (and that's my opinion). That was another tactic Tanner was trying to play with, he claimed to have found Jesus in prison.
I do wish that these types of death penalty cases were carried out pretty quickly, as long as we know 100% that the person is guilty. My stance on this is, if it is without any doubt and the forensic evidence is there that a person is guilty of a horrific murder then it should go ahead without question and they should be denied appeals! If there is no solid evidence or any doubt then it should be looked at again. I also think that child killers who's DNA matches evidence found, that they should face an automatic death sentence no matter what state they are in, they should make an allowance for that. People can argue day and night about capital punishment but the do-gooders who are against monsters being executed have nothing to say when it comes to the horrendous abuse and murder of a child and they shouldn't. The murder of innocent people is bad enough but when it's a young child, that level of evil cannot be excused away and whoever has done such a thing does not deserve any type of sympathy or human rights. Child killers do not deserve even the basic of human rights.
So, the most important person in all of this in this heartbreaking story, is Athena who will never get the chance to grow up, she'll never get the chance to play with those Barbie dolls that her step-mother bought her for Christmas. She'll never get to go to high school, attend her prom or pick a university and have her first dance at her wedding. Her life has been cut short in the most horrific way. As an adult, the idea of being held captive in the back of someone's truck and utterly terrorized is something that none of us dare think about, a 7 year old little girl actually went through all of that and the jury plus everyone in that courtroom had to sit there for an hour (can you imagine....A WHOLE HOUR OF HELL) listening to Athena beg and plead for her life as well as scream in horrendous pain whilst he shouted at the terrified child and called her disgusting names. Nobody can convince me that this monster did not deserve the death penalty and if it were up to me, I would ask for the most painful execution there is...why should he be comfortable on his way out of this world? Why does he deserve mercy? Why are there people out there who actually care about this monster's feelings? Those people don't live on the same planet as me obviously because all I can think abut is Athena and her family and what they've been going through.
Tanner Horner will face the lethal injection and a date for this to be carried out is yet to be determined. I will update this post as soon as I have any new information on this case.
For now, I hold the Strand family in my prayers as well as Athena. They are a strong family, the courageous way in which Athena fought for her life in her last moments was part of who she was, where she came from, her blood, her upbringing. Her parents did and amazing job raising her because everybody loved that little girl and to those of us who were not fortunate to have known her, the stories, the memories, the photographs that Athena's loved ones were so kind enough to share, really gave us an insight into who she truly was. A little 7 year old girl with bags of personality, a right little character and when her mother (who demonstrated such amazing strength on the stand whilst facing that monster....she didn't flinch, she stared him right in his face and told him what she thought of him. It was a very empowering moment and you could see clearly where Athena got her strength from) told the court about the heartbreaking day that Athena's grandmother passed away, she spoke of how Athena ran to get help. From a young age Athena was a very caring and bright child, she had everything she needed to go on and live a happy, successful life. Sadly we will never know what could have been but what we do know is that this little doll-like person was taken into all of our hearts and that is where she'll stay along with all the other angels: Amber Hagerman, Jessica Lunsford, Cherish Perrywinkle and so many others. They will never be forgotten.
RIP Athena x
Please leave a nice message if you can, on Athenas's memorial page here! I think it would be a nice comfort for the family if they see all the love that is out here for them and Athena.
Further Reading & Sources:
- Athena Strand: Article | Sky News
- Athena Strand | Find A Grave: Memorial
- Elijah Strand: Article | People Magazine
- Tanner Horner: Trial Playlist | WFAA YouTube
- Tanner Horner: Discussion Thread | Reddit
- Tanner Horner: Article | CBS News
- Tanner Horner: Article | BBC News
- Tanner Horner: Article | The Independent
This post wasn't planned, I'm currently working on another case as we speak but I had to say something about this heartbreaking story. I have been following the case for quite some time and I know that everyone else who knows the case well, is still trying to get back to normal after yesterday's conclusion. It's been a very long, traumatic journey for Athena's family and my heart goes out to them. I appreciate (as always) the fact that you've taken the time to read this post, if you are new here or a regular reader, I just hope you know that you are appreciated and I hope you'll return for my next post as well as come and say hi on any of my socials.
As always, please take care & stay safe...until next time.
