Jury Selection Begins in Capital Murder Trial for Accused Killer of Athena Strand
Jury selection officially commenced Thursday in Tarrant County, Texas, for the capital murder trial of Tanner Horner, the former contract delivery driver accused in the 2022 kidnapping and death of 7-year-old Athena Strand. The proceedings have been moved from Wise County to Tarrant County following a change of venue granted due to intense pre-trial publicity in the local community.
The selection process is expected to be lengthy and rigorous, as prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Reports indicate that approximately 1,300 residents were originally summoned, a pool that was quickly whittled down to around 300 qualified individuals who will now undergo extensive questioning regarding their views on capital punishment and their knowledge of the high-profile case.
The charges stem from an incident on November 30, 2022, in Paradise, Texas. Athena Strand vanished from her father’s driveway shortly after a FedEx delivery truck arrived at the home. Two days later, authorities recovered the child’s body near the Trinity River. according to arrest affidavits, Horner confessed to investigators that he had delivered a package containing Christmas gifts—Barbie dolls—to the home but accidentally struck Athena with his van while backing up. Investigators allege that Horner admitted he was not injured but panicked, placing the girl in his van and subsequently strangling her to ensure she could not tell her father about the accident.
As the case moves toward trial, the defense team has raised significant legal objections and constitutional challenges. Horner’s attorneys have filed motions arguing that the death penalty should be ineligible in this case due to the accused’s diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The defense contends that this condition reduces his “moral blameworthiness” and negates the deterrent purpose of capital punishment. Furthermore, the defense has sought to suppress the confession obtained by police, arguing that Horner attempted to invoke his right to counsel during the interrogation by asking, “How does the attorney thing work?” They assert that law enforcement continued questioning despite this inquiry, violating his rights, and that his cognitive condition impaired his ability to knowingly waive those rights.
The trial is currently scheduled to present opening statements in April 2026, following the completion of the jury selection process.
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