Former FedEx Driver Pleads Guilty to Killing 7-Year-Old Girl

Tanner Lynn Horner admitted to strangling Athena Strand after delivering a package to her Texas home

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:41am

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A former FedEx driver has pleaded guilty to killing a 7-year-old girl, Athena Strand, after delivering a Christmas gift to her Texas home in 2022. Tanner Lynn Horner told authorities he accidentally struck Athena with his van and then strangled her in a panic. Horner now faces either the death penalty or life in prison, with jurors set to decide his punishment.

Why it matters

This case has shocked the local community and raised concerns about the safety of delivery drivers and the potential risks posed by gig economy workers who have access to private residences. It also highlights the need for better mental health support and screening for individuals working in high-stress, high-pressure jobs.

The details

According to the arrest warrant, Horner told investigators that Athena was not seriously injured when he accidentally hit her while backing up his van, but he panicked and put her in the vehicle. Horner said he then tried to break Athena's neck and when that didn't work, he strangled her with his hands in the back of the van. Prosecutors say Horner's story is a "web of lies" and that Athena was uninjured when he put her in the van, and that he intentionally killed her.

  • In 2022, Athena Strand was reported missing in the rural town of Paradise, near Fort Worth, Texas.
  • Athena's body was found two days after she was reported missing.
  • On April 8, 2026, Tanner Lynn Horner pleaded guilty to Athena's killing in a Fort Worth courtroom.

The players

Tanner Lynn Horner

A former FedEx driver who pleaded guilty to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand after delivering a package to her Texas home.

Athena Strand

A 7-year-old girl who was killed by Tanner Lynn Horner after he delivered a package to her Texas home.

James Stainton

The Wise County District Attorney prosecuting the case against Tanner Lynn Horner.

Steven Goble

The attorney representing Tanner Lynn Horner, who is arguing for a life sentence rather than the death penalty.

Ashley Strand

Athena Strand's stepmother, who testified during the trial.

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What they’re saying

“The only truthful thing that Tanner Horner told law enforcement was that he killed her. The pattern and web of lies that he put together, it's going to be hard for y'all to keep up with. It is lie upon lie upon lie upon lie.”

— James Stainton, Wise County District Attorney

“When someone's brain is what's injured, you don't see it.”

— Steven Goble, Tanner Lynn Horner's attorney

What’s next

Jurors will now decide whether Tanner Lynn Horner will receive the death penalty or life in prison for Athena Strand's murder.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for better mental health support and screening for delivery drivers and other gig economy workers who have access to private residences, as well as the importance of prioritizing public safety over corporate profits in the rapidly evolving world of e-commerce and home deliveries.