After facing delays in 2025 due to jury selection, the capital murder trial for Tanner Horner is set to begin this Tuesday. The trial will be held at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in downtown Fort Worth. Horner is charged with capital murder of a person under the age of 10 and aggravated kidnapping. Prosecutors say they plan to seek the death penalty if convicted. While the crime occurred in Wise County, the case is being heard in Tarrant County. Horner pleaded not guilty during an arraignment hearing in March 2023, after he confessed to police he’d killed the girl. According to an arrest document, Horner told police he hit her with his delivery vehicle accidentally, panicked, put her in his van, and eventually strangled her in November of 2022. Strand was reported missing by her parents, and her body was found two days later, not far from the family home. The package Horner delivered to the family was one of her Christmas presents. Public defenders representing Horner have filed numerous motions in his defense. Most recently, a motion to remove eligibility for the death penalty was made, saying Horner is on the autism spectrum. ATHENA STRAND Texas Legislature Apr 29, 2023 Bill Named After Athena Strand Would Change How Missing Children Alerts Are Issued Wise County Feb 22, 2023 Wise County DA to Seek Death Penalty for Man Accused of Killing Athena Strand Dec 9, 2022 Arrest Warrant Details How Delivery Driver Was Identified As Suspect in Athena Strand's Murder ...read more read less