Jurors were seen in tears, while members of the family left a Texas courtroom on Thursday as graphic footage showing the final moments of 7-year-old Athena Strand was played during the trial of her accused killer.
Tanner Horner, 34, is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping on April 7, just before his trial was due to begin.
Athena Strand was taken from her father’s home in Texas after Horner, a delivery driver, brought a package that contained Barbie dolls intended as a Christmas gift. Investigators say he later strangled the child inside his truck and left her body in a nearby area.
Footage shown in court
The court was shown disturbing video captured from inside the delivery truck, prompting emotional reactions from those present. Before it was played, Judge George Gallagher warned the courtroom:
“If you think you cannot watch it or listen to it, leave now. Now’s your time to get out,” according to the New York Post.
Livestream coverage of the proceedings was also cut before the footage was shown. The recording, dated November 2022, captured the day Athena was killed, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
In the video, Horner is seen pulling up to the home and taking Athena from the driveway before placing her inside the truck and driving off. Once inside, she can be heard repeatedly asking, “Are you a kidnapper?”
Rather than answering directly, Horner attempts to engage her in conversation, asking about school and teachers. At one point, he tells her, “You’re really pretty. You know that?” as the vehicle comes to a stop.
“Is this your house?” Athena asks.
“No. I don’t live around here,” he replies, later adding he lives “far away.”
“What are we doing?” she then asks.
“Hang out for a minute,” he responds.
Moments later, Horner asks Athena to remove her shirt. She refuses and begins calling for her mother. Her cries escalate into screams, followed by loud banging sounds from inside the truck.
By the time the footage ended, jurors were visibly emotional, with several in tears. Family members left the courtroom in stages as the video was shown.
Horner now faces either life in prison or the death penalty, with a jury set to decide his sentence.