Haunting body camera footage of a former FedEx driver who pleaded guilty to killing a young girl was shown in a Texas courtroom on Thursday as jurors weigh whether he will receive the death penalty. Tanner Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand in a Fort Worth courtroom, and jurors are now being shown additional footage and evidence to determine if he should face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
The video captures authorities confronting Horner about where he disposed of Athena’s clothing after her death on November 30, 2022. “Are you saying you stripped her naked and threw her clothes out the window on the highway?” an officer asked. “I thought it was funny,” Horner replied. “Did you take all her clothes off of her? Shirts, pants, panties – everything?” the officer pressed. “Mm-hmm,” Horner said.
The officers then shift to addressing Horner’s alter ego, “Zero.” “Hey Zero, when you took her, was she wearing a jacket or anything?” the officer inquired. “No jacket, no shoes,” Horner, speaking as Zero, replied. Authorities continued to press Horner for details about Athena’s abduction, asking if the girl told him she did not want to get into his car. Horner responded that he told Athena, “We’re going on a ride.” “She was trying to fight you when you told her you were going on a ride?” the officer asked. “No,” Horner replied as he mumbled details about what Athena had said to him. The officers then attempted to obtain more information from Horner, who appeared to be speaking to his alter ego. “So did you hit her before you dropped the package? I’m sorry, did Tanner hit her before the package was dropped off, or after?” the officer asked, before addressing Horner as Zero. “Do you want to talk to him?” Horner replied, saying, “No, I want to talk to Zero. I want to talk to you. Because you’re being more honest, you’re more helpful,” the officer said.
During testimony, Texas Ranger Job Espinoza, the lead investigator who was with Horner when Athena’s body was located and who interrogated him after his arrest, stated that Horner told him Athena’s underwear was still on her body, according to the report. Espinoza testified, however, that he knew the claim was untrue because Athena’s body was nude when her remains were discovered. Espinoza added that Horner allegedly admitted to taking Athena’s pants and placing them where they were found.
