FORT WORTH, Texas (Court TV) — Emotions ran high in a Texas courtroom on Wednesday and Thursday as the parents of a murdered 7-year-old girl took the stand to testify about their loss.
Tanner Horner sits in court during his trial on April 16, 2026. (Court TV)
Tanner Horner, 35, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and capital murder in the death of Athena Strand, who was taken from outside her father’s home on Nov. 30, 2022. Horner faces a potential death sentence, and a jury is currently hearing testimony as they will be tasked with recommending whether the defendant lives or dies.
Athena’s parents testified that their child was like so many other 7-year-olds: she loved Frozen, unicorns, mermaids and “getting dirty,” her father, Jacob Strand, testified on Thursday. He said his daughter sang songs from the Disney movie “24/7” before her disappearance…