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Published 09:32 22 Apr 2026 GMT
The FedEx driver who pleaded guilty to the 2022 murder of seven-year-old Athena Strand, reportedly wrote a letter to her family before attempting suicide in jail.
Tanner Horner, who is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, expressed deep remorse for his actions in his letter.
Horner abducted Athena from her father’s home in Paradise, Texas, in November 2022, while delivering a Christmas package. The child was later found dead nearly nine miles away from her home. Horner’s plea of guilty, along with the letters he wrote, has played a significant role in the ongoing case.
The letter addressed to Athena’s family reportedly expressed Horner’s regret over the tragic events. According to CBS News, Horner wrote, "I can't tell you how many countless nights I've stayed awake, unable to sleep. I pray for all of you. So many people were affected by my breakdown. Not just your family but my own as well. You'll never get to see your baby girl grow up and I'm sorry. Now my son is going to grow up without his father and protector."
In the letter, Horner also acknowledged the role his mental health issues played in the crime. "I'm sorry I allowed my mental state to be unstable," he wrote. "I'm sorry I took your little angel away from you. She didn't deserve it. Y'all didn't deserve it."
The letters were found in Horner’s cell following a suicide attempt months after Athena’s murder, and authorities discovered the letters during this time. Prosecutors read them in court during the sentencing phase of Horner's trial.
Athena’s cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma, smothering, and strangulation.
Jurors are weighing whether Horner will be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole. The sentencing decision is an important step in the legal proceedings following the tragic loss of Athena Strand.
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