Horner Faces Death Penalty in Athena Strand Murder Case

Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver, is facing the possibility of the death penalty after pleading guilty to kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Athena Strand in 2022. The sentencing phase of his trial has entered its sixth day, with prosecutors presenting new witness testimony and digital evidence to paint a broader picture of Horner's character.

The prosecution began the day by introducing internet searches made by Horner in the days following Athena's death. According to CBS News, these searches included phrases like 'My fiance's family makes me out to be a demon' and 'Do FedEx truck cameras constantly record?' Digital forensic examiner Scott Morris testified that Horner also searched for 'Paradise missing girl' and viewed multiple photos of Athena, including missing posters. The defense argued that some of these searches could have been made before the murder or were incidental interactions with posts on social media.

Two women testified about alleged sexual assaults by Horner when they were minors. According to CBS News, one woman met Horner through mutual friends in 2013 and described two incidents of alleged sexual assault while she was intoxicated. Another woman, who met Horner at a band show where he performed, accused him of sexual assault after denying any romantic interest in him. The defense challenged the credibility of these witnesses.

Prosecutors also presented phone calls between Horner and his family members. According to Fox News, Horner admitted to his mother that he did not sexually abuse Athena, stating that his medication had reduced his libido. In another call with his grandmother, Horner denied raping Athena but expressed remorse for the situation. The prosecution played these calls to show Horner's lack of remorse and to establish a pattern of behavior.

Fox News reported that medical examiner Dr. Jessica Dwyer testified about the cause of Athena's death, which included blunt force injuries, smothering, and strangulation. Despite no physical evidence of sexual trauma, Dwyer noted that this does not rule out an assault. The jury also viewed images of the creek where Horner dumped Athena's body.

Horner's defense team has argued that his mental health issues, including Asperger's syndrome and lead exposure, contributed to his actions. According to CBS News, Horner wrote letters from jail expressing remorse and blaming his employer for changes in his delivery route that he claimed worsened his mental state. The prosecution used these letters to show Horner's lack of accountability.

The Daily Mail reported that swabs from Athena's sexual assault kit showed male DNA, and blood and semen were detected on Horner's FedEx shirt. Semen was also detected on Horner's hoodie, jeans, and underwear, while Athena's fingernail clippings tested presumptively positive for blood. These findings were presented by forensic expert Jacqueline Ferrara.

The testimonies from the two women came just one day after jurors heard a recording from a call Horner made to his mother, in which he said he did not rape Athena because he had a low libido. In another phone call played in court, Horner again denied raping Athena to his grandmother but expressed remorse for the situation.