Is Tanner Horner autistic? Ex-FedEx driver faces death penalty, experts say in Athena Strand trial

Her body was found two days after she disappeared. It was found in Paradise near Fort Worth. Tanner initially said he accidentally hit her with his truck and panicked. However, later evidence refuted this claim, including audio in which Tanner can be heard telling Strand that he would “hurt” her if she made any noise. Additionally, the video shows Strand uninjured while sitting in Tanner’s car.

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“You will face the wrath of God,” a relative of Strand told Tanner in a victim impact statement after the sentencing. During the trial, however, Horner’s defense attorneys tried to avoid the death penalty by pointing to his autism, arguing that it made him less “morally reprehensible.” They also believed Tanner had an alter ego “Zero” who would take over in stressful situations. After the death sentence was passed, many people commented on Tanner’s autism.

“The defense tried to blame autism and lead poisoning, but a Texas jury sent Tanner Horner to death row. Imagine a 7-year-old girl kidnapped while delivering a Christmas Barbie doll and expecting mercy. Texas doesn’t play child killers,” one of them commented on X.

Here’s what experts have to say about Tanner Horner’s autism.

Imhoff added that he did not diagnose Horner with antisocial personality disorder. However, he reported that his investigation of Horner’s apparent alternate identity, “Zero,” did not yield any evidence of multiple personality disorder.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Kim Spence was the second expert to take the stand. Spencer told jurors that Horner did meet the criteria for autism spectrum disorder. The medical expert noted that Horner had a difficult upbringing that included the incarceration of his parents, which forced him to rely on his grandmother for care.

Spence was also asked whether Horner’s condition directly contributed to the crime. Medical experts have made it clear they have not, but raised the possibility they “definitely” could play a role.