The capital murder case that has gripped Wise County is back in court today, as Fort Worth delivery driver Tanner Horner is set for a procedural pretrial hearing in the death of 7-year-old Athena Strand. The quick check-in is expected to be a nuts-and-bolts session on evidence and scheduling, while the full trial remains parked on the calendar for spring 2026. The case has stayed front and center across Wise County and the wider Dallas-Fort Worth area since Athena disappeared in late 2022.
The hearing is expected to zero in on evidentiary issues and future dates, according to FOX 4. The outlet reports the appearance comes as the case slowly moves toward its currently planned 2026 trial.
Trial timeline and charges
Horner is under indictment on one count of capital murder and one count of aggravated kidnapping and could face the death penalty if prosecutors decide to pursue it. As reported by NBC 5, jury selection and other major pretrial dates have been pushed into early 2026, with opening statements currently scheduled to begin on April 7, 2026.
Allegations and investigation
Authorities say Athena was last seen on Nov. 30, 2022, near the 200 block of County Road 3573 in Paradise, and that her body was found several days later southeast of Boyd, according to reporting by The Dallas Morning News. Arrest documents cited in that coverage say Horner told investigators he accidentally hit Athena with his vehicle while making a delivery, panicked, put her in his truck and later strangled her. He was arrested on Dec. 2, 2022. Those grim details have fueled community calls for answers and changes to how missing-child alerts are handled in the region.
What to expect Monday
Court watchers do not expect fireworks in Monday's hearing, which is likely to center on procedural motions and disputes over what evidence will be allowed in front of a future jury, rather than live witness testimony. "It’s going to be a very emotional case," defense attorney Toby Shook told FOX 4, adding that jury selection will be a crucial phase once trial finally begins. Any rulings on evidence or a possible change of venue could directly affect how sensitive investigative details are presented to jurors.
Local fallout and remedies
Athena’s death led to community vigils, pink-balloon memorials and continued pressure on local leaders, and it helped spur conversations about a regional missing-child alert now commonly referred to as the “Athena Alert,” according to The Dallas Morning News. Separately, Athena’s mother has filed a civil lawsuit against Horner’s employer and a contracting company, a case that is moving forward on a different legal track from the criminal prosecution.
Legal note
Under Texas law, killing a child younger than 10 can be charged as capital murder, and a capital felony can be punished by death or life without parole. The relevant definitions and penalties appear in Texas Penal Code §19.03 and Texas Penal Code §12.31.
Jury selection and other pretrial steps remain set for early 2026, per NBC 5, and whatever happens in Monday’s hearing could influence how fast that process moves and how the eventual trial is structured.
