Prosecutors in the murder trial of Tanner Horner confirmed new video Thursday from inside Horner’s FedEx supply truck that shows him driving by Athena Strand’s residence the day after she was murdered.
The video, which shows views from each inside and outdoors, was captured on surveillance cameras put in in the truck on the afternoon of Dec. 1, 2022.
Horner might be seen driving alongside a residential nation highway making deliveries. The highway is lined with automobiles on each side as a large search operation was underway for the 7-year-old Strand, who at that time had been lacking for lower than 24 hours.
At one level, the video shows Horner changing into pissed off {that a} automobile was blocking the highway, forcing him to cease. He honked his horn a couple of occasions, then crawled ahead, complaining, “I can’t get through, there’s people in the way.”
Horner then rolls down his window and shouts to some individuals standing close by to ask the automobile to maneuver so he can proceed on his supply route. A girl then approaches his window and he tells her he has packages to ship.
“Um, you can pull up and try to ask them to get through, but there’s been a kidnapping, so it’s all blocked off. So you’ll have to just pull up and ask them if they’ll let you through, but a 7-year-old was taken,” the girl stated.
“Are you serious?” Horner replied.
“That’s what all this is for,” the girl stated.
“Are you serious?” Horner requested once more.
By that time, the automobile that was blocking the highway had moved, and regulation enforcement allowed Horner to drive previous.
The murder of Athena Strand
On Nov. 30, 2022, Horner was working as a supply driver for a FedEx contractor when he went to the woman’s Wise County residence to ship a bundle that contained a Christmas present. He claims he by chance struck Strand along with his truck whereas backing out of the driveway. She was not significantly injured, however Horner stated he panicked, positioned her into his van and strangled her out of worry that she would inform her father what had occurred.
Two days later, authorities discovered Strand’s physique about 9 miles away from her residence, southeast of Boyd.
Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in Strand’s dying final week, simply moments earlier than the trial was to start. Despite his responsible plea, Horner nonetheless faces the dying penalty, which prosecutors are pursuing.
Prosecutors confirmed the video to jurors shortly after Strand’s father, Jacob Strand, testified. Later Thursday, the jury noticed video of what occurred inside the truck when Horner strangled and killed Athena Strand; the choose didn’t permit that video to be seen outdoors of the courtroom. The prosecution additionally rested its case.
