Jurors Sob As Murdered 7-year-old Athena Strand’s Final Moments Are Played In Court: ‘are You A Kidnapper?’

Jurors reportedly wept and family members near a Texas courtroom arsenic video played showing nan disturbing last moments of Athena Strand, a 7-year-old who was kidnapped and killed by a FedEx driver successful 2022.

In nan clip, Strand reportedly could beryllium heard asking Tanner Horner, who confessed to nan killing, “Are you a kidnapper?”

In response, nan driver told nan kid to beryllium down and not shriek aliases other he would wounded her, according to nan video. Several of Strand’s family members reportedly near nan courtroom during this information of nan tape.

The video captures Horner, 34, driving to Strand’s location successful nan municipality of Paradise, near Fort Worth, to present a package.

Strand tin later beryllium seen being lifted into nan motortruck and past Horner drives away.

The 7-year-old later asks Horner wherever they are going and he responds that it doesn’t matter.

He tin past beryllium seen covering nan camera wrong his transportation truck.

In nan video, Horner is later reportedly heard telling nan 7-year-old to return disconnected her shirt, arsenic she says “no” and asks for her mom. The signaling continues and captures a prolonged play of banging, screaming, and crying.

Prior to playing nan recording, Judge George Gallagher reportedly warned nan courtroom astir nan schematic contented of nan clip.

"If you deliberation you cannot watch it aliases perceive to it, time off now. Now's your clip to get out," he said, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

Strand’s parents, Jacob Strand and Maitlyn Gandy, near nan room earlier nan video was played and a TV provender showing nan proceedings was temporarily abnormal arsenic jurors listened to nan delicate footage.

State prosecutors rested their lawsuit connected Thursday.

Last week, Horner pleaded guilty, successful a astonishment move, soon earlier nan proceedings was group to get underway.

The assemblage will now see whether to broadside pinch prosecutors and springiness nan 34-year-old nan decease punishment aliases life successful prison.

Horner claimed to constabulary he accidentally deed Strand pinch his motortruck past killed her successful a fresh of panic.

He took investigators to wherever he near Strand’s body, according to his apprehension warrant.

The prosecution alleges Horner was lying astir what happened.

“The only truthful point that Tanner Horner told rule enforcement was that he killed her,” Wise County District Attorney James Stainton said during opening arguments.

Horner’s defense has asked jurors to springiness him a life sentence. His lawyer said nan 34-year-old is autistic and had suffered from fetal intoxicant exposure, lead vulnerability and intelligence illness.

“When someone’s encephalon is what’s injured, you don’t spot it,” lawyer Steven Goble told jurors.

The defense is expected to statesman presenting its arguments adjacent Wednesday.