Trial of man accused of killing 7-year-old girl moved from Wise County to Tarrant County

The capital murder trial of a FedEx driver accused of injuring a 7-year-old girl, kidnapping her, and strangling her has been moved from Wise County to Tarrant County due to concerns over whether he could get a fair trial.

Tanner Horner faces charges of capital murder and kidnapping in the 2022 death of 7-year-old Athena Strand. Defense attorneys argued that Horner could not receive a fair trial in Wise County because of extensive media coverage, a motion the judge granted. The trial's new start date has not been set.

In December 2022, Horner delivered a Christmas gift to Strand's home in the Wise County city of Paradise. According to an arrest warrant, he accidentally backed into the child with his vehicle. Although she was not severely injured, Horner reportedly kidnapped, strangled, and killed her to prevent her from telling her father about the accident. Her body was found two days later along the Trinity River.

Horner reportedly confessed to the crime during police questioning.

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