An atrocious FedEx driver has been apprehended for fatally assaulting a seven-year-old girl in his delivery van while singing a Christmas song as the child cried out in agony and terror. Tanner Horner, aged 34, abducted Athena Strand from her residence in Texas while dropping off a package of Barbie toys purchased by her parents for Christmas in November 2022. The heart-wrenching incident unfolded as Horner callously strangled Athena to death in his van.
The distressing dashcam footage captured Horner’s arrival at the girl’s home, where he left packages, followed by Athena. Subsequently, Horner lifted the child into his delivery van after she questioned his intentions, leading to a chilling scene of Athena kneeling behind him as he drove away.
Despite Horner’s attempt to obstruct the camera, audio from inside the vehicle revealed his sinister actions. As he sang along to “Jingle Bell Rock,” Athena’s screams resonated, and Horner menaced her, warning of further harm if she did not comply. The footage also captured Horner making inappropriate remarks to the girl before coercing her to remove her shirt.
In a shocking turn of events, Horner confessed to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping just hours before his trial was set to commence. The court is now tasked with determining the appropriate sentence, whether it be the death penalty or life imprisonment, for the remorseless perpetrator.
According to an arrest warrant, Horner initially claimed he accidentally struck Athena with his van during a delivery, leading to her tragic demise. Subsequently, he admitted to placing her in the vehicle and strangling her in a state of panic.
