{"id":80346,"date":"2026-04-20T00:12:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T00:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/killer-sang-jingle-bell-rock-during-athena-strands-murder\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T00:12:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T00:12:38","slug":"killer-sang-jingle-bell-rock-during-athena-strands-murder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/killer-sang-jingle-bell-rock-during-athena-strands-murder\/","title":{"rendered":"Killer Sang ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ During Athena Strand’s Murder"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Child killer Tanner Horner<\/strong> sang the holiday song \u201cJingle Bell Rock\u201d as he was brutally murdering little Athena Strand<\/strong> in the back of his FedEx truck in late 2022, Texas jurors learned late Thursday, April 16, while continuing to hear evidence as they determine what punishment the 35-year-old delivery driver deserves: death or life in prison.<\/p>\n

Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping on April 7, just as his criminal trial was set to start. On November 30, 2022, Horner kidnapped Athena from her Paradise, Texas, driveway after he\u2019d delivered a package to her mom\u2019s home stuffed with Christmas presents intended for her.<\/p>\n

According to WFAA, who had reporters inside the closed courtroom last week, audio captured by the truck\u2019s security camera was played for the jury; Horner had covered up the camera\u2019s lens with a sticky note just prior to the killing.<\/p>\n

Reporters said the truck\u2019s radio was left on during the 7-year-old\u2019s murder, and that at one point, \u201cJingle Bell Rock\u201d began to play.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Babysitter<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n

\n

Related: <\/span>Babysitter Killed 8-Month-Old Child After Burping Her ‘Aggressively\u2019<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tA Missouri woman was arrested after she killed an 8-month-old child she was babysitting, with police saying that she \u201caggressively\u201d burped the baby and lied about when she was sleeping. Jennifer Johnson was sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder after she was convicted by a Boone County jury in January, according to court [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In the audio, Horner can be heard singing along to the tune, but is drowned out by the girl\u2019s screams, WFAA reported. He eventually yells at the girl to \u201cShut up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Strand\u2019s naked body was found in a nearby river two days after she was kidnapped.<\/p>\n

Before killing the girl, Horner asked Athena to take off her shirt. She told him her mother taught her to say \u201cno\u201d to such requests, according to WFAA. Athena, who asked him if he was a kidnapper, also asked Horner why this was happening. He responds by telling her she\u2019s pretty.<\/p>\n

Jurors were seen sobbing as the audio of the girl\u2019s screams played. Loud, indistinct banging could also be heard coming from the back of the delivery truck. Prosecutors have insisted Athena was not sexually assaulted, but the audio seems to indicate otherwise, WFAA reporters insisted.<\/p>\n

They say there was no question that something sexual was going on.<\/p>\n

The footage of Horner driving the FedEx truck after the killing shows him enjoying a cigarette.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Man-Accused-of-Sexually-Abusing-a-Child-From-Jail-Gets-Life-Sentece\"<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\n

\n

Related: <\/span>Man Accused of Sexually Abusing a Child From Jail Gets Life Sentence<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\tA Texas man was sentenced to life in prison after authorities said he continued to sexually abuse a child \u2014 who he is alleged to have abused previously \u2014 while he was in jail awaiting a murder trial. Anthony Dewayne Taylor, 46, of Frisco, was sentenced on a charge of sexual performance of a child, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Prosecutors have accused Horner of lying about striking Athena with his FedEx truck and then strangling her to avoid arrest.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\"\"
\n\t\"\"<\/p>\n