Everything we know after 7-year-old girl was kidnapped and killed by FedEx driver - a heartbreaking final image has been released

Here's everything we know about Athena Strand, the seven-year-old girl who was kidnapped and killed by a FedEx driver, as a heartbreaking final image shown in court sheds new light on her final moments.

As widely reported, Strand was abducted by Tanner Horner while he was delivering her Christmas present to her Texas home on November 30, 2022.

The news of her disappearance prompted an urgent community-wide search involving approximately 200 volunteers from the area.

Tragically, her body was later discovered southeast of the city of Boyd, roughly 11 miles away from her family home.

Haunting Image Reveals Strand's Final Moments

A chilling black-and-white image presented in court on Tuesday (April 7) has become one of the most disturbing pieces of evidence in the case.

The picture was taken inside a delivery van and shows the child, who appeared terrified, alive and alert, on her knees behind the driver’s seat.

Prosecutors say the photo directly contradicts the FedEx driver's earlier claims that he had accidentally hit the child, as the image shows no signs of injury.

Horner can reportedly be seen calmly driving and whistling, while Strand stares ahead.

Prosecutors Reveal Disturbing Details In Court

Horner, 34, has pleaded guilty to capital murder of a child under 10 and aggravated kidnapping.

During opening statements, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton warned jurors about the harrowing evidence they would hear.

"She was very much alive and uninjured when he put her in the truck," he said, per The New York Post. "The first thing he said to her was, 'Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you.' That’s the first thing out of his mouth. He made good on it."

Stainton also described audio evidence recovered from inside the van, which jurors are expected to hear.

"You’re going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child," he said, adding that Strand "fought with the strength of 100 men".

"It’s horrible. One thing you can’t unhear is the level of fight in a seven-year-old girl when she’s facing certain death. This is the level of cold-heartedness that you’re going to see," Stainton added.

Investigation and Arrest

Horner admitted to kidnapping the little girl, attempting to break her neck, and ultimately strangling her inside the delivery van before dumping her body in the Trinity River.

Police were able to track the driver down after identifying that he had made a delivery to the seven-year-old's home on the day she disappeared.

FBI Special Agent Patrick McGuire told jurors that Horner initially denied remembering the delivery and claimed he saw a green van leaving the property, a vehicle investigators now believe never existed, per Fox 4 News.

After further questioning, Horner changed his story and eventually led police to Strand's body just two days after her disappearance.

Defense Arguments and What Happens Next

While Horner has pleaded guilty, his defense team has argued against the death penalty.

His attorneys told the court that he has Asperger's, that his mother drank while pregnant, and that he was exposed to lead as a child.

"Tanner unfortunately also suffered various mental illnesses throughout his life. He’s been diagnosed and received treatment for and some of those are ongoing. You’ll hear about those issues," defense attorney Steven Goble said.

The punishment phase of the trial is ongoing, with jurors expected to look at further evidence, including hours of interrogation footage, before deciding whether the driver will spend the rest of his life in prison or face execution.

Featured image credit: Facebook