The murder trial for Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver who pleaded guilty to the 2022 slaying of 7-year-old Athena Strand, has shifted into a grim phase as prosecutors present evidence to dismantle Horner’s defense. During the second part of the trial, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton argued that the death penalty is the only appropriate sentence for Horner.
The details emerging from the courtroom are incredibly difficult to process. Prosecutors revealed that DNA evidence suggests Horner likely sexually assaulted the 7-year-old girl. Stainton noted that investigators recovered DNA from Athena that matches Horner, including samples found under her fingernails, as well as evidence in other locations that should not be present on a young child. This directly contradicts Horner’s earlier narratives.
