Former FedEx driver sentenced to death for killing seven-year-old Texas girl

May 6, 2026

A Texas jury sentenced former FedEx delivery driver Tanner Horner to death following his guilty plea for the 2022 murder of seven-year-old Athena Strand. The tragic incident occurred when Horner abducted the child while delivering a Christmas present to her family's home near Fort Worth, and her body was discovered two days later. After pleading guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping, Horner faced jurors who chose death over life imprisonment without parole.

Who is affected

Athena Strand (seven-year-old victim, deceased)
The Strand family, including Elijah Strand (Athena's uncle) and other relatives
Tanner Horner (former FedEx driver sentenced to death)
FedEx corporation
Big TopSpin Inc (FedEx contractor that hired Horner)

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The sentencing has been completed, and the execution date has not yet been determined.

Why it matters

This case highlights critical failures in corporate hiring practices and contractor oversight that resulted in a child's death. The death penalty sentence reflects the severity of the crime and its devastating impact on the victim's family. The pending lawsuit against FedEx and its contractor raises important questions about corporate responsibility and the adequacy of background screening procedures for employees who have direct access to customers' homes and families.

What's next

Horner will be executed by lethal injection before sunrise at a yet-to-be-determined date
The civil lawsuit filed by the Strand family against Horner, FedEx, and Big TopSpin Inc remains pending

Read full article from source: BBC