Jurors Break Down as Courtroom Shows Video of Athena Strand’s Final Moments Before Her Murder

A Texas courtroom saw several jurors break down in tears as a video showing the final moments of Athena Strand was played as evidence. The court is in the sentencing phase of Tanner Horner, who is accused of kidnapping and murdering the 7-year-old in 2022.

The child was playing in her yard in Paradise on November 30, 2022, when Horner, a FedEx contract delivery driver, arrived at her home to deliver a package. Strand was soon reported missing, and multiple law enforcement agencies and hundreds of volunteers began searching for her.

Tragically, her body was found two days later in a rural area about 10 miles from her home. On April 16, Judge George Gallagher ordered the playback of a video recorded inside Horner’s pickup truck after Strand disappeared. He warned the courtroom that the video would be graphic and that people who did not want to watch it could leave the room.

Following the judge’s warning, Strand’s parents left the courtroom. The jurors then watched the chilling footage, which showed Horner picking Strand up from outside her home and locking her inside his truck.

An audio recording from the truck revealed that Strand innocently asked Horner, “Are you a kidnapper?” The accused then threatened the child that he would hurt her if she screamed. He later asked the girl to take off her shirt, but she vehemently refused and asked for her mother.

At another point, Horner was heard making a disturbing remark as he told the child, “You’re really pretty. You know that?” Horner then covered the camera inside his truck, but audio of screaming and crying continued for over an hour.

The footage and audio took an emotional toll on the jurors, as many of them began sobbing at the horrific nature of the crime. Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder before his trial was going to begin. The prosecution has demanded a death penalty for the accused, while the defense is seeking a life sentence.

During the investigation, Horner initially claimed he accidentally struck Strand with his delivery van. He told the investigators that he panicked and put her in the van. Horner later confessed to strangling Athena inside the van, saying he was afraid she would tell her father about the alleged accident.

The victim’s father, Jacob Strand, also testified in court before the video was shown. He stated that he feels guilty about not being able to protect his daughter. Jacob added that the tragedy has ruined his life as he has turned to alcohol, which has also affected his marriage.

"It made me feel horrible. You know, like, I should have done something or been there. I wasn't there to protect them like I should be, like a father's role,” Jacob said on the stand. The prosecution rested its case following the video evidence. The proceedings will now resume on April 22 when the defense will present its case.