Court records and testimony from the ongoing punishment phase of Tanner Horner’s capital murder trial in Tarrant County revealed that the 34-year-old former FedEx driver had been staying in a small, cluttered shed on family property near Lake Worth in west Fort Worth at the time of the investigation into the abduction and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand. Inside and around the outbuilding, officers later recovered items tied to the little girl — including pieces of clothing that matched what she wore on November 30, 2022 — a discovery that deepened the horror and provided critical physical links in the case.

FBI Special Agent Kurt Duross, who supervised evidence collection, walked jurors through “entry photos” of the property during recent testimony. He identified the shed as the structure where Horner lived with his fiancée, just steps behind the main house occupied by Horner’s mother, grandmother, and other relatives. The exterior and yard were described as in disarray, littered with trash, old furniture, electronics, a red guitar, and general debris. The interior, which served as Horner’s bedroom, showed a basic bed amid piles of clothing and personal items in a state of squalor.

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Prosecutors displayed multiple photographs documenting the search. In the trash piles and grassy area directly behind the shed, investigators found scattered children’s clothing: a pair of blue jeans with distinctive pink or red floral embroidery on the front pockets, a child’s sock (one with a second sock still inside the pant leg in some descriptions), white underwear, and other garments. These items closely matched the outfit Athena was last seen wearing while sorting laundry near her family’s converted storage shed in rural Wise County. FBI agents collected the evidence shortly after Horner’s arrest in early December 2022.

The discovery stunned investigators and shifted the case significantly. Horner had been living in the shed the entire time, with family members present on the property during the search. Testimony noted that his mother, grandmother, and brother were escorted outside while agents processed the scene. The proximity — family living mere steps away in the main house — added a layer of unease, as the critical evidence lay hidden in plain sight among everyday clutter and garbage.

The Crime and Initial Investigation

On November 30, 2022, Athena Strand, a vibrant 7-year-old with a bright smile and playful personality, disappeared from her father’s property in Wise County. The family home was under construction, so Athena and her stepsister were sleeping in a separate outbuilding. Her stepmother noticed her missing around dinner time and called 911 after a quick search. An Amber Alert was issued, drawing volunteers, Texas EquuSearch, and law enforcement into an intense effort.

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Two days later, Athena’s nude body was found near a creek off County Road 4668 in Boyd. The case turned from a missing child search to a homicide investigation. Horner, working as a contracted FedEx driver, had delivered a package containing Barbie dolls — intended as a Christmas gift for Athena — to the Strand home that afternoon. Records and surveillance placed his white FedEx van in the area.

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Horner was arrested days later and initially told investigators he accidentally struck the girl with his van while backing up, panicked, and later strangled her. Prosecutors have challenged this account in the punishment phase, presenting evidence that Athena was alive and uninjured when she entered the vehicle. A chilling black-and-white image from the truck’s interior camera, shown to the jury, captures the 7-year-old standing or kneeling near the door, looking toward Horner in the driver’s seat. Audio and video from the truck reportedly document the sequence of events.

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On April 7, 2026, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder in the course of aggravated kidnapping and the underlying kidnapping charge. The guilt phase ended swiftly, and the trial moved to the punishment phase, where a Tarrant County jury must decide between life without parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors argue the crime was deliberate and predatory, while the defense has cited Horner’s claimed mental health issues, including references to an “alter ego” named “Zero.”

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The Shed as a Focal Point in Court

During Day 3 and subsequent testimony, jurors saw detailed photos of the property. Agents pointed out the shed where Horner lived, the main house, and the specific trash pile behind the shed where the clothing was recovered. One photo highlighted a child’s sock found in the dirt and grass. Another focused on the floral jeans. These images, combined with forensic links, contradicted parts of Horner’s early statements and strengthened the prosecution’s case.

Horner himself mentioned his living situation in police interview footage played in court. He described staying in the shed with his fiancée, steps from where his mother and grandmother lived. Investigators also collected other items from the shed area and the FedEx truck, including muddy shoes whose tread patterns were later compared to marks on Athena’s face.

Athena’s family has shared emotional testimony. Her stepmother described the day of the disappearance and the devastating moment she learned of the child’s death. Community members who joined the initial search were left heartbroken. Photos of Athena — often with her pink backpack or red bow — have been shown throughout the proceedings as reminders of the innocent life taken.

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Ongoing Proceedings and Broader Impact

As of mid-April 2026, the punishment phase continues, with more witnesses, including experts, expected to testify. Jurors have viewed extensive evidence from both the shed property and the interior of the FedEx truck, including bungee cords and other details. The defense has raised questions about evidence handling and Horner’s mental state, but the physical connections — particularly the clothing recovered behind the shed — have been described as compelling.

The case has shaken North Texas, raising questions about child safety in rural areas, screening for delivery drivers, and rapid response systems like Amber Alerts. Horner had no prior convictions that barred him from the job, though other allegations have surfaced in reporting.

The shed where Tanner Horner lived stands as a grim centerpiece in the trial evidence — a place he called home “the whole time,” where investigators uncovered pieces of a little girl’s clothing scattered among trash just days after her murder. Those images, entered into the court record, serve as silent testimony to the events of that November afternoon in 2022, when a routine delivery turned into an unimaginable tragedy.

Athena Strand’s memory persists through her family’s resilience and the community’s grief. As the jury weighs Horner’s fate, the photographs from that cluttered shed and the truck interior remain powerful, haunting reminders of what was lost.