Jurors heard from Tanner Horner’s former pastor and a speech-language pathologist who recently evaluated the defendant in jail as defense attorneys continued to press their case at Horner’s capital murder trial Monday in Tarrant County.
The trial entered its fourth week Monday. Horner has already pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Athena Strand after delivering a package to her family’s Wise County home on Nov. 30, 2022. His attorneys are trying to convince the jury that the 34-year-old defendant should receive life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of the death penalty.
Gary, the pastor who was identified in court only by his first name, said Horner was in junior high when he began attending the church with his grandparents. He testified that the church leaders were aware of Horner’s autism diagnosis, and they tried to help and support him as much as they could…