Home/News/Ex–FedEx driver receives death penalty for murdering a seven-year-old girl in Texas
Ex–FedEx driver receives death penalty for murdering a seven-year-old girl in Texas
Aashia Punjabi
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Aashia Punjabi
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World
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5 min
Date
May 6, 2026
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Ex–FedEx driver receives death penalty for murdering a seven-year-old girl in Texas

May 6, 2026
By: Aashia Punjabi
World

Ex–FedEx driver receives death penalty for murdering a seven-year-old girl in Texas

Tanner Horner, who used to be a FedEx delivery driver, received the death penalty in Texas after kidnapping and murdering seven-year-old Athena Strand in 2022. The suspect, delivering Christmas gifts of Barbie dolls to the little girl’s residence close to Fort Worth, took her away. Her remains were found two days later not far from her place. After pleading guilty to the crime of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, Horner was sentenced to death by a jury that took weeks deciding his fate, listening to the terrifying recording of the child's last moments. After the sentencing, Athena's uncle, Elijah Strand, addressed Horner, saying that his name would be forgotten but her name would always remain famous. In addition, Athena’s family is planning to sue FedEx and its contractor for not conducting adequate background checks before hiring Horner.



Published: May 6, 2026Updated: May 7, 2026
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