The trembling voice of a seven-year-old girl asking her abductor 'Are You A Kidnapper?' has left a Texas courtroom in shattered silence as the sentencing of former FedEx driver Tanner Horner enters its final phase.
Jurors were left visibly shaken after emotional evidence was presented in court relating to the abduction and killing of Athena Strand.
Horner, 34, has already entered aguilty pleato capital murder and aggravated kidnapping for the 2022 case.As of now, the case is in the hands of a Wise County jury tasked with a singular, grim decision: life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
Courtroom observers described a scene of visceral grief as theAthena Strand audio transcriptwas played, revealing the child's desperate attempts to understand her fate while trapped inside Horner's delivery van.
Horner sat motionless as the recording confirmed he told the girl she was 'really pretty' and threatened her to stay quiet just minutes before he strangled her. This murder case remains one of the most high-profile trials in the state, centring on the final minutes of a child whose name has since inspired new safety legislation.
Athena Strand was seven years old when she was killed in November 2022 in Wise County, Texas.
She had been living with her father and stepmother at the time of the incident. Reports indicate she was a typical young child who enjoyed drawing and everyday activities, as testified by teachers and family members during court proceedings.
Her disappearance triggered a large-scale search operation involving local authorities and volunteers after she was reported missing.
Court records and investigative reports indicate that Horner was working as a contract delivery driver when he arrived at Athena's home to deliver a package containing a Christmas gift. Prosecutors say Athena encountered the delivery driver outside her home before she was abducted. Horner later told investigators he accidentally struck the child with his vehicle while reversing, claiming she was still conscious afterwards. However, prosecutors argue that the claim is false and say evidence shows she was alive when she was placed into his van.
The jury was presented with theAre you a kidnapper audioduring a week of harrowing testimony that detailed the 30 November 2022 abduction. The recording, captured by internal surveillance in Horner's FedEx truck, documents Athena's confusion as she was driven away from her driveway.
Source: International Business Times UK
