Live updates: Tanner Horner’s defense case in Athena Strand murder trial Day 12
Defense attorneys continue presenting their case Monday in the trial of Tanner Horner, who has pleaded guilty to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand.
Horner’s mother was one of the first defense witnesses to testify last week as Horner’s lawyers try to convince the jury that he should be sentenced to life in prison without parole instead of the death penalty. Witnesses have focused on Horner’s childhood, including discussion of autism, and lead exposure after he ate coins as a toddler.
At the start of the prosecution’s case on April 7, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder in the course of kidnapping. The jury will decide his punishment.
The former FedEx driver abducted and killed Athena on Nov. 30, 2022, after delivering a package to her rural Wise County home. Horner told a false story about hitting the little girl with his van and then strangling her in a panic, according to testimony of the case’s lead investigator, Texas Ranger Job Espinoza. Investigators believe Horner planned to kidnap and murder Athena.
The prosecution showed the jurors chilling video and audio evidence that included Athena’s last moments after Horner lured her inside the FedEx van. She died from blunt force trauma, smothering and strangulation, and Horner dumped her naked body in the water along the Trinity River. Horner could not be excluded as the source of male DNA found on swabs in the victim’s sexual assault kit, a DNA analyst testified.
In interviews with investigators, Horner blamed an alter ego called “Zero” for the girl’s death.
The trial is being held at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth and is expected to continue into early May.
Watch live video of the trial here with analysis from WFAA-TV, and follow Star-Telegram.com for updates.
10:39 Horner’s childhood friend testifies
Reba is another character witness for the defense. She and Horner were best friends in fifth grade. They dated briefly in high school and for a short time as adults.
They met on the playground in fifth grade and would hang out and play kickball together. Sometimes they would pretend they were characters in the Harry Potter series, Ruby said.
“He was energetic, talkative, fun to be around,” Reba said.
The two stayed friends in high school, and Reba attended church services with Horner’s family. She remembers that Horner was insecure about being in the high school choir because his voice was changing. He wanted to focus on playing instruments and wanted a career in music, she said.
Remembers going to the mall with Horner and going out to eat with him and his grandparents. She would also hang out at Horner’s house.
Reba described Horner as sweet and gentlemanly. They dated for a short time in high school after Horner admitted he had a crush on her, she said. Horner treated her well and was never violent with her or raised his voice at her, Reba testified. They broke up because Reba wanted to date someone else.
“He was upset and had every right to be upset,” Reba said of Horner’s reaction. One time he chased after her and her new boyfriend. Reba said she crossed to street to where her mom was waiting and just left it at that.
After the breakup, Horner walked nearly 20 miles to Reba’s house. He wanted to clarify what was going on, Reba said.
“I was shocked that he walked that far and was afraid of him getting hit by a car,” Reba said.
Reba later got married, but still kept in touch with Horner off and on. She and her husband separated around 13 years ago, and she reached out to Horner again. Reba said she was interested in him romantically, but Horner just wanted “friends with benefits,” she said.
Reba testified that Horner always treated her well. They broke up again after Horner made it clear he wasn’t ready to be a father. He wanted to focus on his music, she said.
9:56 a.m. Horner’s former pastor testifies
Gary, a lead pastor at Horner’s church, is testifying.
Horner started at the church around junior high and was part of the youth ministry. Gary said the leaders were aware he had a form of autism. Sometimes he would get upset, and act in a way that was out of the ordinary. Gary said he never took it out on others, but he did get angry with himself and hit himself.
Gary said he would have conversations with Horner and try to give him guidance and direction. Horner participated in music in the youth group’s fine arts team. He had to try out to make the team, but once he did, “I think that gave him a sense of belonging,” Gary said.
Gary recalls once that Horner’s drumstick broke during a music competition in front of judges. It sent him into a panic, Gary testified. Someone else gave him a stick, and he was able to continue, but “for some reason that really impacted Tanner,” Gary said. He was really upset with himself.
Horner attended church with his grandparents, but stopped attending regularly when he got his own car, Gary said. He did come after he graduated from high school and received the Bible the church always gave to graduates.
Gary said his last contact with Horner was after Athena’s death. He got a call that Horner wanted to see him. Gary testified that he didn’t talk with Horner about the specifics of what happened, but just wanted to pray with him and make sure he understood the seriousness of his actions.
“My goal was, ‘Tanner do you understand the severity ... that this is going to be life-changing,’” Gary said. He wanted Horner to know that the consequences weren’t going to go away.
9:14 a.m. Testimony of Azle ISD special educator
Marie, a former special educator who worked with Tanner Horner during his time at Azle ISD, is testifying. She helped students in the content mastery program. Horner would come to the learning lab, and she would assist him with science and social studies projects he’d been given in his general classroom, she said.
She recalls that “he was a pleasant young man.”
Marie doesn’t remember that Horner talked to her very much about his home life, but she met Horner’s grandparents at his Admission, Review, and Dismissal meetings that were part of the special education program.
She said Horner was diagnosed as a student with a learning disability, but she’s not sure what subject. He was also diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. A diagnostician from the school would have evaluated him, Marie said.
Horner came to Azle ISD in sixth grade. Marie worked with Horner during all four years of high school.
“I have no doubt it helped him,” she said of the support Horner received in the content mastery program.
Marie said once Horner was redirected once or twice, he did what he was supposed to do and would stay on task. He was typically easy to redirect, she said.
Defense attorney Susan Anderson asked about Horner’s ability to problem solve. Marie said he could usually make good decisions if given enough time. If he felt pressured, he didn’t always make the best choices.
She saw him act out once or twice when his emotions got the better of his ability to reason. He would need some help to calm down, Marie said. She believes he had at least one instance where he got physically aggressive, but she didn’t see it.
There are two instances of fighting/mutual combat listed on Horner’s records from high school. Marie said the records are vague, and it’s not clear who started the altercation or if Horner was just acting to defend himself in those instances. Marie doesn’t remember him having any serious disciplinary problems.
There were also code of conduct violations on Horner’s record, but it’s not clear what those were.
Marie had a chance to watch Horner interact with his peers on a regular basis. He seemed more comfortable with those in the special education program, but he also had friends who were not in that program, Marie said.
“Most of the time I think he was accepted,” she said of his interactions with other students, but sometimes he was ostracized or not treated like he should have been.
Horner graduated from high school. All the accommodations he received through the special education program ended at the at time, Marie said.
“He was always pleasant to interact with,” Marie said. He always came willingly and would accept redirection and the assignments he came to complete.
“He worked hard to achieve,” Marie said of Horner’s efforts during high school.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 8:09 AM.
