back Tanner Hornerpredecessor fedex driverwas sentenced to death on Tuesday, May 5, after pleading guilty to killing a seven-year-old child athena strandthe murdered girl’s uncle gave a powerful victim impact statement in court. Speaking in court after the verdict, Elijah Strand described how Horner’s horrific crimes have left a lasting impact on the family.
“There are no words that can truly describe the devastation Tanner Horner has caused to us and our families,” Elijah said, according to WFAA. “He took more than just a child from this world… He took away light, a future, and a piece of everyone who loved her. He took away a granddaughter, a daughter, a niece, a cousin and a friend. She would call me Uncle Li-jah for a long time because she couldn’t pronounce the E-li-Jah part of my name… Seeing her running to me with her arms outstretched, screaming Uncle Li-jah, was the best thing. It’s one of the last memories I have of her, but now I can never hear it again.”
Ilya later relayed his statement to Horner.
Learn more | Tanner Horner Death Penalty: What Did He Do to Get Sentenced to Death?
“You not only took a life, you destroyed a family,” Horner said to his niece’s killer, looking back at Elijah. “You took a girl who believed in the world and repaid her innocence with violence. You chose to cause pain that will last for generations… I want you to know that you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena’s story. Her name will always be remembered. Her name will always be celebrated and everyone will forget you. You wanted your 15 minutes of fame… You did it, but no one will remember you after that.”
Horner was sentenced to death for killing Strand, whom he took from his home in Texas while delivering Christmas gifts. Jurors in the Fort Worth courtroom decided to punish Horner after hearing days of testimony and evidence, including audio of Strand’s final moments in a delivery van.
Learn more | Tanner Horner’s family: What we know about his mother and ex-girlfriend as he faces death penalty
Horner, 34, pleaded guilty to murder last month. He killed Strand in 2022, and her body was found two days after she was reported missing from her home in the rural town of Paradise. fort worth. She died from blunt force trauma and strangulation.
Wise County District Attorney James Stanton spoke of the human toll of this horrific case.
“I think the evidence in this case is the most brutal evidence that I think anyone could ever hear or see, and I think it will haunt me forever,” Stanton said, adding that this was his first death penalty case.
Horner will now be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility in Livingston. A judge will set an execution date, but appeals against the death sentence will proceed automatically.
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