FedEx driver searched digital camera information after Athena Strand was killed: knowledgeable

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A former supply driver who murdered 7-year-old Athena Strand searched "do FedEx truck cameras always document" after the killing, an knowledgeable testified in week two of the capital homicide trial.

The second week of Tanner Horner's punishment part started with Scott Morris, a digital forensic examiner employed by the FBI , who uncovered the search historical past of the FedEx driver's cellphone.

He talked about Horner's browser cache and search historical past on the day of Dec. 1, together with the phrases " Paradise missing girl " and "do FedEx truck cameras always document."

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Horner, 34, a former supply driver accused of kidnapping and strangling the 7-year-old after hitting her together with his van in 2022, admitted to her capital homicide in Tarrant County, Texas final week.

After the homicide of 7-year-old Athena Strand, 34-year-old Tanner Horner appeared up "do FedEx truck cameras always document," in response to knowledgeable testimony on Tuesday, April 14. (KDFW-TV)

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On Monday, medical examiner Dr. Jessica Dwyer testified that the reason for demise was blunt power accidents, smothering, and strangulation.

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Beneath questioning from prosecutors, Dwyer mentioned she believed the sufferer suffered earlier than she died.

Addressing the dearth of physical evidence of sexual trauma , Dwyer famous that whereas none was discovered, its absence doesn't rule out the prevalence of an assault.

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Athena Strand, 7, was kidnapped and murdered by 30-year-old FedEx supply driver Tanner Lynn Horner. Strand's father is suing Horner, FedEx and the contractor that employed him. (Sensible County Sheriff's Workplace)

Prosecutors additionally performed 5 separate telephone calls between Horner and relations. Throughout one name, Horner's mom requested him what occurred in the course of the abduction.

"What did you do? Did she die on her personal?" his mom requested.

"No," Horner admitted.

"Oh my God," his mom exclaimed.

"I do know," Horner mentioned.

She additionally requested him whether or not he sexually abused Athena.

"Tanner, I simply hope you did not do nothing bizarre to that little lady," his mom mentioned.

"I did not," he mentioned.

"OK. I did not assume you probably did. I simply know the way you get," his mom mentioned.

"Effectively, truly with my remedy, I barely actually have a libido as it's," Horner mentioned.

In a name dialog together with his grandmother, Horner as soon as once more denied raping Athena.

"Are you remorseful, Tanner?" his grandmother requested.

"How can I not be?" he replied. "I have not been on my remedy for the previous few weeks, and I am feeling emotional."

He additionally, in response to FOX 4 Dallas , broke down on the decision when discussing that he wouldn't be capable to spend Christmas together with his younger son.

Following the homicide, Horner wrote a letter to Athena's heartbroken household, writing: "To Athena's household. I needed to start out by saying how sorry I'm about Athena. The complete time I've identified my authorized counsel, they continued to inform me how. I need not apologize, did not apologize, and the trial? And admittedly, I can not maintain it in any longer. I can not inform you what number of numerous nights I've stayed awake, unable to sleep. I pray for you. For all of you. So many have been affected by my breakdown. Not simply your loved ones, however my very own as properly. You may by no means get to see your child lady develop up. And I am sorry," the letter to Athena's household mentioned.

Tanner Horner listens in the course of the first day of his capital homicide trial on the Tim Curry Prison Justice Heart in Fort Price, Texas, on April 7, 2026. He's charged with kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Athena Strand in 2022. (Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning Information)

Firstly of the trial, Horner admitted to abducting Athena whereas delivering a package deal to her father’s dwelling in Paradise, a city of fewer than 500 folks about 60 miles northwest of Dallas. Her physique was discovered on Dec. 2, two days after she was reported lacking lower than 10 miles away from the property.

Horner, authorities mentioned, was delivering a package deal of Barbie dolls meant to be Athena's Christmas current. She was set to return to Oklahoma along with her mom after the vacations and had been staying along with her father, Jacob Strand, and stepmother, Ashley Strand, in Sensible County.

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Former FedEx supply driver Tanner Horner was dropping off a field of Barbies — a Christmas current for Athena Strand — to her father's dwelling on Nov. 30, 2022. (Varghese and Summersett Regulation Group)

In line with the arrest warrant, Horner told investigators that he strangled the 7-year-old after unintentionally hitting her together with his van whereas making a supply at her father’s dwelling. He mentioned Athena wasn't severely damage after he hit her whereas backing up, however he panicked and put her in his van.