Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Jurors were left weeping after heartbreaking audio which captured Athena Strand pleading for her mother in the moments before her death was played in court.
Tanner Horner is facing the death sentence after he changed his plea last week and confessed to the horror kidnapping and killing of the seven-year-old on 30 November, 2022.
The former FedEx driver was making a delivery at Strand's family home in Paradise, Texas, and claimed he accidentally struck the child with his truck - before supposedly panicking and putting her into his van.
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Horner's trial has now proceeded to the sentencing portion after he pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping last Tuesday (7 April).
The 34-year-old previously told police that he had accidentally hit Athena with his van while he was delivering one of her Christmas gifts to her home, but claimed that she wasn't seriously hurt.
As he feared the little girl would tell her parents what happened, he bundled her into the vehicle and horrifically murdered her in the back of it shortly afterwards.
Medical examiner Dr Jessica Dwyer told the court in Fort Worth that Athena's cause of death was attributed to blunt force injuries, smothering and strangulation.
Her body was found two days later, around nine miles from the home she shared with her father and step-mother.
Following his guilty plea, jurors sitting in on the harrowing trial are now tasked with determining what sentence Horner should be handed - life imprisonment or the death penalty.
On Thursday (16 April), those in the courtroom were warned that distressing audio recordings from inside of the van would be played for jurors.
According to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, Judge George Gallagher told those present: "If you think you cannot watch it or listen to it, leave now. Now's your time to get out."
Athena's heartbroken parents are said to have excused themselves when footage of their daughter's final moments were played.
Video reportedly showed how Horner arrived at the property in Paradise before getting out of the van and returning a few moments later with the seven-year-old trailing behind him.
The little girl was seen taking a look inside of the vehicle before her killer then picked her up and placed her inside.
In audio from inside of the truck, Athena can be heard repeatedly asking the delivery driver: "Are you a kidnapper?"
The youngster also asked, 'Where are you taking me?', before Horner demanded that she sit down, while threatening to hurt her if she screamed.
Chillingly, before covering up the camera inside of the truck, Horner then said to Athena: "You’re really pretty, you know that?" He then pulled over and told her they would 'hang out for a minute'.
Members of Athena's family were seen leaving the room while the audio was played - and devastatingly, one portion of it captured her asking for her mother.
She could also be heard sobbing and screaming while asking Horner to take her home.
The killer was seen hanging his head while the audio was played, while jurors were left in tears after hearing the haunting clips. It was reported some members of the jury were left 'visibly shaken and sobbing'.
Prosecutors previously told the 12 men and women that Horner's claim that he acted out of panic was 'an absolute lie'.
Jurors are set to return to the courtroom on Wednesday (22 April).
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
Topics: Crime, True Crime, US News
Olivia Burke