This browser does not support the Video element.
Jury watches Tanner Horner interrogation video
Jurors in the Athena Strand murder trial watch Tanner Horner's interrogation video with investigators today, one where he switched to an alternate personality named 'Zero'. FOX 4's Peyton Yager has more.
FORT WORTH, Texas - Prosecutors in the trial of Tanner Horner are expected to continue to play body camera video from the night 7-year-old Athena Strand was found dead.
Horner, a former delivery driver, took Strand into his van and strangled her while delivering a package to her home on Nov. 30, 2022.
On the first day of the trial, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. In the punishment phase, the jury will decide if Horner will receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Watch Live Coverage
The trial is expected to resume around 9 a.m. on Thursday.
On Wednesday, video of Horner's arrest and his interrogation during the search for Strand's body were shown to the jury. In the video, Horner told investigators he killed Strand.
FOX 4 will have gavel-to-gavel coverage of the trial on this page.
Tanner Horner Trial Daily Recap
This browser does not support the Video element.
Tanner Horner references alter-ego in murder trial
Testimony continued on the second day of Tanner Horner's murder trial, and he made frequent reference to his alter-ego 'Zero' to investigators. FOX 4's Dionne Castillo has the latest.
Athena Strand’s Death
This browser does not support the Video element.
Horner lied about hitting Athena Strand with his truck, prosecutor says
Prosecutors tell jurors that the only thing Tanner Horner actually told the truth about was that he killed 7-year-old Athena Strand. The story about him hitting her with his delivery truck was a lie, according to the state.
The backstory:
Horner was charged with capital murder for the death of 7-year-old Athena Strand outside her family’s Wise County home on Nov. 30, 2022.
A contract delivery driver working for FedEx at the time, Horner was delivering what was meant to be a Christmas present for the young girl.
Package meant for Athena Strand
Horner told investigators he accidentally hit Athena with his van while delivering a package to her home. She reportedly survived, but Horner told authorities he panicked and kidnapped her, later strangling her to death.
Athena was reported missing, and eventually an Amber Alert was issued, leading to 72 hours of searching. She was found dead in Boyd, Texas, not far from her family's home.
Athena Strand: Tanner Horner strangled 7-year-old after hitting her with his van, arrest affidavit says
The disturbing details of 7-year-old Wise County girl Athena Strand death came to light Thursday in a newly filed arrest affidavit for contracted FedEx delivery driver Tanner Horner.
Athena Alert
Athena Strand (Courtesy: Maitlyn Gandy)
The Impact:
After Athena Strand's case, Texas Legislators passed a new bill that created a version of an Amber Alert known as the ‘Athena Alert.’
The new law allows authorities to issue an Amber Alert for a missing child that doesn’t have to meet all of the initial criteria.
Under the Athena Alert law, an Amber Alert can still go out even though authorities haven’t confirmed a missing child was kidnapped.
The alert would be able to be sent out to a 100-mile area around the disappearance and adjacent counties.
DPS emphasizes that this is not a new type of alert. All alert messages will still be referenced as an Amber Alert.
The Source: Information in this article comes from testimony in the Tanner Horner trial, past FOX 4 coverage, Tarrant County court records and the Texas Legislature.