FedEx driver Tanner Horner sang 'Jingle Bell Rock' while killing seven-year-old Athena Strand in back of his truck after abducting her

By NATASHA ANDERSON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:16, 20 April 2026 | Updated: 15:17, 20 April 2026 The FedEx driver who abducted and killed seven-year-old Athena Strand sang Jingle Bell Rock as he strangled her to death in the back of his delivery truck, a jury heard. Horrific footage of Athena's painful final moments was shown at Tanner Horner's trial on Thursday as jurors were tasked to decide whether Horner should be executed. The full footage showed Horner, 34, delivering packages to Athena's family home in Paradise, Texas in November 2022 before he scooped her up, placed her in his truck and shut the door. 'Where are you taking me?' Athena asked before Horner covered the camera lens, the footage showed, according to WFAA. Audio continued to record. Horner called the girl 'sweetie' and tried to make small talk by asking her age, where she goes to school, her teacher's name, and whether her teacher was nice. The truck could be heard halting, before Athena questioned: 'Is this your house?' Horner replied: 'No, I don't live around here'.  'Where are we going? What are you doing?' the little girl asked a few moments later. Horner answered: 'We are going to hang out for awhile.' The killer then ordered the child to remove her shirt and shushed her when she questioned why. She started to cry and asked for her mother. Athena Strand was abducted form her Texas home on November 30, 2022 and killed by FedEx driver Tanner Horner A photo was shown in court of Athena kneeling next to Horner in his van. Footage played to jurors revealed that the little girl repeatedly asked if he was a kidnapper 'Are you a kidnapper?' Athena asked through her tears and pleas to go home. 'Why are you doing this?' Horner replied: 'Because you are pretty. You know that?'   WFAA also reported very graphic details of Strand's final moments that are too upsetting to reproduce. They revealed how Horner began singing along to Jingle Bell Rock as he inflicted fatal violence on the youngster. Horner, an independent contractor working with FedEx, killed Athena three-and-a-half-years ago while delivering a box of Barbies that were to be given to the little girl as a Christmas present.  He pleaded guilty to murder on April 7, hours before his trial was set to start and a jury will now decide whether he should be executed. The vehicle that Horner used to kidnap Athena was called the 'abduction van' by prosecutors last Friday. Bungee cords and bands were found inside the truck following Athena's death, prosecutors said. Crime scene investigator Alise Amey told the court that 'markings on the victim's face' were found that were consistent with the floor of Horner's van. Juror's were told during Horner's trial Thursday that he sang Jingle Bell Rock as he strangled Athena to death in the back of his delivery truck Athena died because of blunt force injuries consistent with smothering and strangulation, according to medical examiner Dr Jessica Dwyer Medical examiner Dr Jessica Dwyer, who ruled Athena died because of blunt force injuries with smothering and strangulation, also testified. Dwyer told the court that the injuries on Athena's face and chest had a zigzagged pattern. She also said that she thought Athena had suffered before dying and did not rule out the possibility that she had been sexually abused. 'Lack of injuries does not mean that there's a possibility that a sexual assault did or did not occur,' Dwyer said. The medical examiner's report said Athena's body did not show signs of sexual trauma. But Jacqueline Ferrara, a former forensic analyst with the Texas Department of Public Safety, testified at Horner's trial last Tuesday that male DNA had been found on swabs from Athena's rape kit. Horner initially told authorities that he accidentally hit Athena with his van and then strangled her in a panic. Prosecutors called that an 'absolute lie' and said Athena was not hurt before he abducted her, with footage showing Athena conscious and seemingly physically unharmed inside the truck.  Tanner kidnapped the little girl as he delivered a parcel of Barbies that her father and stepmother bought for her as a Christmas present A jury will now decide whether Horner is executed. Horner previously told investigators that an alter ego of sorts, Zero, had committed the murder An arrest warrant said Horner took investigators at the Wise County Sheriff's Office to where he'd left Athena's body. Horner also told investigators that an alter ego of his, Zero, 'kind of took over' after he failed to calm Athena down. 'He told her, "Just get in the back of the van, we're going to go to the hospital,"' Horner said. Horner claimed he had not committed the murder, instead pinned it on his alter ego.  'That's what f***s with me,' he told investigators, per the outlet. 'I'm wondering who the hell's been in my head this whole time.' Horner also said that 'part of me is in denial because I didn't pull the trigger,' adding that he felt like Zero had done that.  The defense has asked jurors to sentence him to life in prison, citing his alleged autism diagnosis and various mental health conditions. Athena's mother, Maitlyn Gandy, has vehemently supported the death penalty for her daughter's killer.  The Daily Mail has reached out to Steven Goble, Horner's attorney, for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. 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