Jurors hear audio of Athena Strand's final moments in FedEx truck during Horner sentencing

The graphic recording captured the 7-year-old's cries and expressions of pain before her death.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:23am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car sensor lens reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the violence and trauma of a child's kidnapping.The disturbing audio evidence of a child's final moments exposes the tragic human toll of violent crimes that shake a community.Paradise Today

Jurors in a Tarrant County courtroom heard a graphic audio recording of 7-year-old Athena Strand's final moments inside Tanner Horner's FedEx truck on Thursday as the capital murder sentencing trial entered its second week. The roughly one-hour recording, captured on an interior camera system on Nov. 30, 2022, documented Horner kidnapping the girl while delivering a package to her home, placing her in the back of the truck, and later strangling her.

Why it matters

The disturbing audio evidence provides a harrowing account of Athena's final moments, underscoring the tragic nature of her death and the need for justice in this high-profile case that has deeply impacted the local community.

The details

Prosecutors say the recording documents Horner, a former FedEx driver, kidnapping Athena while delivering a package to her home in Wise County's Paradise community, placing her in the back of the truck, and later strangling her. A medical examiner determined Athena died from blunt-force trauma and strangulation, and her body was later found in a river near Boyd after a three-day search that included an Amber Alert.

  • The audio recording was captured on November 30, 2022.
  • Athena's body was found in a river near Boyd after a three-day search that included an Amber Alert.

The players

Tanner Horner

A former FedEx driver who pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the death of 7-year-old Athena Strand.

Athena Strand

A 7-year-old girl who was kidnapped and killed by Tanner Horner while he was delivering a package to her home in Paradise, Texas.

Ruben Gonzalez

The Tarrant County District Judge presiding over the capital murder sentencing trial of Tanner Horner.

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What’s next

The jury must now decide whether Tanner Horner receives the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

The takeaway

This disturbing case highlights the urgent need for stronger safeguards and accountability measures to protect children from predators, especially in the context of gig economy services like package delivery that bring strangers into residential neighborhoods.