What Happened to Athena Presley Monroe Strand?

Athena Presley Monroe Strand, a 7-year-old girl, disappeared from her father's home in Paradise, Wise County, Texas, on November 30, 2022. Her stepmother reported her missing after an argument, leading to an extensive search involving hundreds of volunteers. Two days later, on December 2, 2022, Athena's body was discovered in a wooded area near Boyd, approximately 9-10 miles from her home.

The investigation quickly led authorities to Tanner Lynn Horner, a 31-year-old (now 34) FedEx contract delivery driver. Detectives determined that FedEx had delivered a package to the Strand home around the time of Athena's disappearance. Video evidence from Horner's delivery van reportedly showed a young girl, identified as Athena, talking to the driver. Upon questioning, Horner confessed to the crime. He stated that he accidentally struck Athena with his delivery truck while backing out of the driveway, but she was not seriously injured. Panicked that she would tell her father, Horner allegedly kidnapped her, placed her in his van, and then strangled her to death.

Horner was arrested and charged with capital murder of a person under the age of 10 and aggravated kidnapping. In February 2023, he was formally indicted on these charges and pleaded not guilty. Wise County District Attorney James Stainton announced his intention to seek the death penalty. Separately, Horner was also charged in December 2022 with three unrelated counts of sexual assault from 2013, offenses not connected to Athena's case.

The trial faced several delays and a change of venue. Originally scheduled for Wise County, the case was moved to Tarrant County in March 2024 after Horner's public defenders argued that extensive pretrial publicity would prevent him from receiving a fair trial locally. Despite the move, jury selection in Tarrant County in January 2026 still revealed widespread public awareness of the case. Horner's defense team also filed motions to remove the death penalty as an option, citing his Autism Spectrum Disorder as a factor that reduces his moral blameworthiness, and sought to deem data from his phone inadmissible.

On April 7, 2026, the day his capital murder trial was scheduled to begin with opening statements, Tanner Horner abruptly pleaded guilty to killing Athena Strand. This plea immediately shifted the proceedings from the guilt/innocence phase to the sentencing phase. A jury will now be tasked with deciding whether Horner should receive the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole. Athena's parents had also filed a civil lawsuit against FedEx and its contractor, Big Topspin, alleging negligent hiring and failure to properly investigate Horner's background. This lawsuit was later withdrawn in 2023 under a non-disclosure agreement, the details of which remain undisclosed.