Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver, is on trial for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand. Horner admitted to killing Strand after a delivery at her home in 2022. During the trial, a disturbing audio clip was played where Horner can be heard making threats to 'hurt' Strand if she tried to pull anything over him.
The clip prompted Elon Musk to call for Horner's immediate execution. Jurors broke down in tears after hearing the audio, which included Horner asking Strand to remove her shirt and telling her she was 'really pretty.' Strand repeatedly asked for her mother.
Horner faces the death penalty or life behind bars for his crime. He was charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. Strand's body was found two days after she was reported missing in Paradise, a rural town near Fort Worth.
Horner's attorney claimed that he suffered from 'various mental illnesses throughout his life' and was exposed to a 'massive amount of lead' as a child. However, prosecutors believe he strangled Strand with his hands and disposed of her body in the Trinity River. Horner's DNA was found on Strand's rape kit.
