Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJamie StengleWednesday 08 April 2026 16:03 BST(Wise County)Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver, has pleaded guilty to the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand in Texas.The jury is currently deliberating whether Horner will receive the death penalty or life imprisonment for the crime.Athena's body was found two days after she was reported missing in November 2022, with Horner initially claiming he accidentally hit her with his van before strangling her in a panic.The jury was shown an image of Athena taken from a video inside the delivery truck. She was still alive and sitting on her knees behind the driver’s seat.Horner's defense attorney highlighted his client's mental health issues as factors supporting a life sentence rather than the death penalty.In fullFormer FedEx driver admits to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand after delivering her Christmas giftThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in