In a shocking revelation at his murder trial, Tanner Horner, a FedEx driver, claimed his victim, Athena Strand, witnessed him using cocaine before he abducted and murdered her, according to a psychiatrist’s testimony.
Dr. Eileen Ryan, speaking to the jury on Tuesday, explained that Horner admitted he forced the 7-year-old into his van after she saw him using drugs. His fear of losing his job and being separated from his son led him to make what Ryan described as an “unreasonable” leap in thinking from “Point A to Point Z.”
Horner, who is awaiting a decision on whether he will face the death penalty, also confessed to assaulting Strand after initially denying it, Ryan said while testifying for the defense.
Ryan highlighted a moment during her testimony where Horner’s demeanor was notably similar to when he discussed his own experience of being raped at the age of 10, indicating deep shame.
Dr. Amy Fritz, another defense expert, commented on Horner’s rationale for abducting Strand, which she attributed to his “weak theory of mind” and a lack of understanding of others’ perspectives.
Here’s the latest on killer FedEx driver who murdered 7-year-old Athena Strand:
Fritz emphasized that Horner’s reasoning was flawed, stating, “If your cause to action is to abduct a child and kill them because you think that they may have seen you do cocaine, you are definitely not understanding their perspective.” She added that a young child might not even recognize cocaine or understand its legal implications.
Horner’s account of the incident has changed significantly from his initial statement. Initially, he claimed he panicked after accidentally hitting Strand with his delivery van.
Previously, Horner also attributed the strangling of Strand to an alternate persona he called “Zero.” The young girl was kidnapped from her family’s driveway in Paradise, Texas, on November 30, 2022, while Horner was delivering a package. Her body was discovered two days later in a rural creek, with the medical examiner citing blunt force trauma, smothering, and strangulation as the causes of death.
