Athena Strand’s Father Breaks Down, Asks Jury to Sentence Killer to Death

The murder trial of Athena Strand is underway in Tarrant County. The defendant, Tanner Horner, 34, has pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing the 7-year-old in 2022. The court is now weighing whether to sentence him to life in prison or the death penalty.

On April 16, Athena’s father, Jacob Strand, testified in court and urged the jury to sentence Horner to death. He became emotional as he came face-to-face with his daughter’s killer.

On November 30, 2022, Horner, a FedEx delivery driver, arrived at the Strand family’s residence in Paradise, where he saw Athena playing in her yard. He picked her up, locked her inside his van, and drove away. The child’s body was found two days later in a rural area.

During his testimony, Jacob Strand said he was on a camping trip with his father when Athena Strand disappeared. He initially thought she might be playing hide-and-seek but later learned she had been found dead.

Jacob said he still blames himself for not being there for Athena. He believes he should have been at home to protect her. The loss and guilt affected his life significantly over the past three years. He said he struggled with alcohol, stopped eating properly and experienced difficulties in his marriage.

“I just kind of held everything in, and it broke me. I couldn't sleep, and I would only eat like every seven days, and I lost like 50 pounds,” he recalled on the stand. Jacob eventually sought therapy, which made him feel somewhat better.

During the trial, Jacob also talked about his last meeting with Athena. Before heading to his camping trip, he gave her a hug and told her that he loved her. “As I was backing up, she ran up to the truck because she wanted to give me another hug. I told her not to run up on me as I was backing up… I gave her another hug and told her I love her,” he said.

Tears rolled down Jacob’s face as he continued his testimony. In the end, he made a request to the jury and the judge by saying, “I just hope that the jury and the justice system makes the right decision.”

Horner claims that his van accidentally struck Athena while he was delivering her package. According to him, he kidnapped and strangled her in panic as he did not want anyone to know about the accident.

However, the prosecution presented video evidence in court that contradicted these claims. The footage, recorded on Horner’s van camera, shows Athena alive, asking the man whether he is a kidnapper. The horrifying video ends with prolonged audio of screams and cries, which left jurors sobbing.

The prosecution has rested its case and is seeking the death penalty for Horner. On the other hand, the defense is expected to point to Horner’s mental health issues as it pushes for life imprisonment.