A Wise County judge ordered the trial be heard in neighboring Tarrant County for a FedEx delivery driver accused of killing a 7-year-old girl after striking her with his truck and abducting her.
Judge Brock Smith of the 271st District Court approved Tanner Horner’s change of venue motion Friday after a hearing earlier in the week, according to the Wise County Messenger.
Horner of Fort Worth has remained jailed in Wise County since his arrest in December 2022, records show. The 33-year-old was indicted on one count each of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the slaying of Athena Strand.
If convicted, Horner could face the death penalty.
An Amber Alert was issued for Athena after she went missing Nov. 30, 2022, from the 200 block of County Road 3573 in Paradise. Her body was found days later about 10 miles away.
Horner told investigators he was trying to deliver a package to Athena’s father’s home when he accidentally struck her with his truck, according to an arrest-warrant affidavit.
A deputy wrote in the affidavit that Horner said Athena was alive, but he panicked, put her in the vehicle and killed her.
Horner and his attorneys requested the trial be moved from Wise County due to “inflammatory pre-trial publicity” that wouldn’t allow for a fair trial.
Wise County District Attorney James Stainton said in a written statement to The Messenger that he was disappointed the Wise County citizens won’t be the ones to hear the case.
“Wherever this case is tried, however, my office will continue to seek justice for Athena,” he said. “This unfortunate change in geography will not change how we handle this case in any way.”
A trial date has not been set.
