FedEx Driver’s Chilling Phone Searches Exposed After Child’s Murder

Clear Facts

• Former FedEx driver Tanner Horner, 34, admitted to the capital murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand in Tarrant County, Texas
• FBI forensic examiner revealed Horner searched “Paradise missing girl” and “do FedEx truck cameras constantly record” after the killing
• Medical examiner testified the child suffered before death from blunt force injuries, smothering, and strangulation
• Horner abducted Athena while delivering Christmas Barbie dolls to her father’s home in Paradise, Texas in December 2022

The second week of testimony in the capital murder trial of Tanner Horner revealed disturbing details about the moments after he killed 7-year-old Athena Strand. An FBI digital forensic examiner took the stand to expose the search history on the former delivery driver’s cellphone.

Scott Morris, the FBI’s forensic examiner, detailed Horner’s browser cache and search history from December 1, 2022. The searches included phrases like “Paradise missing girl” and “do FedEx truck cameras constantly record.”

Horner, 34, admitted last week to the capital murder of the young girl after kidnapping and strangling her following an incident with his delivery van. The crime occurred in Tarrant County, Texas, shocking the small community of Paradise, a town of fewer than 500 people located about 60 miles northwest of Dallas.

Medical examiner Dr. Jessica Dwyer testified on Monday about the brutal nature of the child’s death. She stated the cause of death was blunt force injuries, smothering, and strangulation.

Under questioning from prosecutors, Dr. Dwyer delivered heart-wrenching testimony.

“She believed the victim suffered before she died.”

Regarding the lack of physical evidence of sexual trauma, Dwyer noted that while none was found, its absence does not rule out the occurrence of an assault. This has been a point of contention throughout the trial.

Prosecutors played five separate phone calls between Horner and family members, revealing disturbing exchanges. During one call, Horner’s mother pressed him about what happened during the abduction.

“What did you do? Did she die on her own?”

“No,” Horner admitted.

“Oh my God,” his mother exclaimed.

“I know,” Horner said.

She also asked him whether he sexually abused Athena.

“Tanner, I just hope you didn’t do nothing weird to that little girl.”

“I didn’t,” he said.

“OK. I didn’t think you did. I just know how you get,” his mother said.

“Well, actually with my medication, I barely even have a libido as it is,” Horner responded.

In a conversation with his grandmother, Horner once again denied raping Athena.

“Are you remorseful, Tanner?”

“How can I not be? I haven’t been on my medication for the last few weeks, and I’m feeling emotional.”

Horner reportedly broke down on the call when discussing that he would not be able to spend Christmas with his young son. The emotional display stood in stark contrast to the calculated searches he conducted after taking Athena’s life.

Following the murder, Horner wrote a letter to Athena’s heartbroken family. The letter read in part: “I wanted to start by saying how sorry I am about Athena. I can’t tell you how many countless nights I’ve stayed awake, unable to sleep. I pray for you. For all of you. So many were affected by my breakdown. Not just your family, but my own as well. You’ll never get to see your baby girl grow up. And I’m sorry.”

At the start of the trial, Horner admitted to abducting Athena while delivering a package to her father’s home in Paradise. Her body was found on December 2, 2022, two days after she was reported missing, less than 10 miles away from the property.

Authorities revealed that Horner was delivering a package of Barbie dolls intended to be Athena’s Christmas present. She was set to return to Oklahoma with her mother after the holidays and had been staying with her father, Jacob Strand, and stepmother, Ashley Strand, in Wise County.

According to the arrest warrant, Horner told investigators that he strangled the 7-year-old after accidentally hitting her with his van while making a delivery at her father’s home. He claimed Athena wasn’t seriously hurt after he hit her while backing up, but he panicked and put her in his van.

Athena was reported missing, and eventually an Amber Alert was issued. This led to 72 hours of intensive searching by law enforcement and the community before her body was discovered.

The trial continues as prosecutors seek the death penalty for Horner. The punishment phase has brought forward evidence of his actions immediately following the crime, painting a picture of a man who knew exactly what he had done and attempted to cover his tracks.

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