Former FedEx driver pleads guilty in 2022 “crash” that ended in murder of Athena Strand

FORT WORTH, TX – On Tuesday, a former FedEx driver pleaded guilty to a “crash” that evolved into the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand. 

ABC 7 said the former driver, Tanner Horner, will either face the death penalty or a life sentence in prison. 

The Back Story: Horner told law enforcement that he struck Athena with his van while backing up as he was making a delivery. He said Athena wasn’t injured, but he panicked and threw her inside his van. 

Horner said he did not want to tell Atena’s father what happened, so he strangled her, according to an arrest warrant. 

Camera footage from the van revealed Athena was on her knees and alive on the day of Horner’s delivery. Her body was found in Paradise, a small town near Fort Worth, two days after she was reported missing. 

Horner’s trial was first held in Wise County, but moved to Fort Worth to allow for a fair trial, his attorneys said. 

Horner’s attorney, Steve Gobel, said Horner is autistic and suffered various “mental illnesses” throughout the course of his life, and asked jurors to grant him life in prison. 

Horner’s sentence awaits. 

We will provide additional information after the latest developments come to light. 

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