Tanner Horner sentenced to death for the 2022 murder of Athena Strand

A Texas jury has sentenced Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver, to death for the November 2022 kidnapping and murder of seven-year-old Athena Strand. The verdict followed approximately three hours of jury deliberation. During the trial, video evidence documenting the child's final moments was presented, causing significant emotional distress among those present in the courtroom. The presiding judge ordered that Horner be executed by lethal injection at a future date, to be carried out before sunrise. In accordance with Texas law, an automatic appeal has been initiated following the death sentence. Horner showed no outward emotion when the sentence was read or when the victim's uncle addressed him in court. The case has drawn national attention due to the brutality of the crime. The defense and prosecution presented their evidence over the course of the trial before reaching this final sentencing decision.