Tanner Horner Faces Capital Murder Trial for Athena Strand's Death

Jury selection complete, opening statements set to begin Tuesday in high-profile case

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:04pm

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Nearly 3 1/2 years after the death of 7-year-old Athena Strand, the man accused of her murder, Tanner Lynn Horner, will face a jury trial beginning next week. Horner, 34, is charged with capital murder, and prosecutors will seek the death penalty if he is found guilty.

Why it matters

The case has drawn significant public attention and outrage over the brutal nature of Strand's death, with prosecutors citing the young victim's age and the high level of violence used as reasons for pursuing the death penalty.

The details

Horner was indicted for capital murder and aggravated kidnapping of Strand in February 2023, 2 1/2 months after his arrest. Investigators say Horner, who was making a delivery in a FedEx truck, accidentally struck Strand with his vehicle at her Cottondale home on November 30, 2022, and later strangled her to prevent her from telling her father what happened. He then led police to where they found Strand's body in the Trinity River.

  • Athena Strand went missing on November 30, 2022.
  • Horner was arrested 2 days later on December 2, 2022.
  • Horner was indicted on capital murder and aggravated kidnapping charges in February 2023.
  • Jury selection began in January 2026 and has been completed.
  • The trial is set to begin with opening statements on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Tanner Lynn Horner

A 34-year-old man charged with capital murder and facing the death penalty for the death of 7-year-old Athena Strand.

Athena Strand

A 7-year-old girl who was killed in November 2022.

James Stainton

The Wise County District Attorney who announced the decision to seek the death penalty against Horner due to Strand's young age and the brutal nature of her death.

George Gallagher

The judge appointed to preside over the trial after the case was moved from Wise County to Tarrant County.

Regional Public Defenders Office

The office representing Tanner Lynn Horner in the trial.

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What they’re saying

“You look at that little girl's face and you just ask yourself, 'why?' It's just the brutal nature of what went on, the level of violence that the guy brought to this. It's just unspeakable. I do not comprehend how an individual can do this with that level of violence to a child.”

— James Stainton, Wise County District Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will preside over the trial, which is expected to last several weeks. If Horner is found guilty, the jury will then decide whether to sentence him to death or life in prison.

The takeaway

This high-profile case has sparked outrage over the brutal killing of a young child and has raised questions about the use of the death penalty, especially in cases involving the most vulnerable victims. The outcome of the trial will be closely watched by the local community and the nation.