In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I continue the heartbreaking case of 7-year-old Athena Strand. This is Part Two of a story that is as heavy as it is important. As we move forward, I walk through what happened after Athena’s disappearance, the investigation, the critical moments that unfolded, and the pieces that began to come together in a case that gripped so many people. This part of the story brings more clarity, but it also brings a deeper understanding of just how quickly lives can change forever. I approach this episode with the same care and intention, honoring Athena, respecting her family, and being mindful of the weight this story carries for listeners. From an investigative standpoint, I also share insight into how cases evolve once key information is uncovered, how law enforcement works against time, how decisions are made in real-time, and how those early hours can shape everything that follows. But even as more details emerge… I want to keep the focus where it belongs. On Athena. On her life, her light, and the love that surrounds her. This episode continues discussions of child abduction and violence. Please take care of yourself while listening, and step away if you need to.
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00:06
Welcome to Pushing Up Lilies. I'm your host, Julie Mattson. Pushing Up Lilies is a weekly true crime podcast with spine-tingling, unusual, and terrifyingly true stories from my perspective as a forensic death investigator and a sexual assault nurse examiner.
00:24
Do I have some stories for you? Are you ready? Hey guys, Julie here with Pushing Up Lilies. We're back for part two of the story of Athena Strand. It's one week closer to Chrome-Con. I'm so excited. I am getting ready to start shipping my stuff.
00:46
I decided we're going to fly instead of drive. Obviously, I can't get it all in my suitcases. So, I'm going to have tons of pens and stickers and the special bloodbath soaps made just for us by Soaping Up Life here in Crumb.
01:07
She's amazing. All of her soaps are handmade, hand-poured, and they smell delicious. This is lavender and lemongrass, and you're going to love it. And then also I'm going to have the hoodies and the T-shirts and the canvas bags and our special poker chips.
01:25
And these are clay poker chips. So, they're heavy. They're great keepsakes. And I think I decided I'm going to go around to all the podcasters and collect their pins. That's kind of something I think that I can put in my office.
01:38
It's going to be super cool to collect. It's just going to be fun. I have never been even as a spectator. So, I'm excited to see what it's all about. And maybe next year I can get on Creator's Row. I've applied for about three years and haven't been able to get on, but they swear there's no rhyme or reason that they choose podcasters, not based on how long they've been podcasting, but just kind of randomly.
02:07
So, I don't know how that works. Evidently, there is no secret, but we'll just cross our fingers for next year. I'm super excited. So, I can't wait to go again at Caesar's Palace, May 29th through 31st.
02:22
If you don't have a ticket, you should go online and get it now and meet me there. So, this week again, we're going to talk about Athena Strand. And as we know, this case is still unwinding. I do also want to cover the days in court and what has taken place during the courtroom testimony.
02:45
Again, I think when we left off, we were talking a little bit about autopsy findings and how critical that information is for prosecutors. It definitely supports the charges and clarifies the timeline and helps juries to really understand the physical reality of the crime that was committed.
03:06
Medical testimony often becomes one of the most influential elements in a trial. That's because when the pathologist gets on the stand, they can actually describe the injuries and explain the possible cause.
03:23
News of Athena's death spread very quickly, and the community of Paradise responded obviously with shock and sorrow. There have been a lot of vigils held to honor her memory and families gathering to support one another.
03:38
And of course, the schools have offered counseling services for the students and the staff there. But the case also received national attention because media outlets reported on the investigation and the arrest and also on the impact on the community.
03:55
Conversations about child safety and the screening of delivery drivers and community awareness emerged across the country. Public attention can bring support and pressure. Families often receive messages of sympathy, but of course they also face scrutiny.
04:18
And so, investigators have to balance transparency with the need to protect the integrity of the case. Now, following this investigation, prosecutors charged Tanner Horner with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.
04:34
And these charges reflected the severity of the crime and the circumstances surrounding Athena's death. Capital murder - let's talk a little bit about that. It's one of the most serious charges in the criminal justice system.
04:49
It carries the possibility of life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. Now, the case moved through the legal process, including hearings and evidence review and preparation for trial. Prosecutors gathered all the information and documentation, witness testimony, forensic findings, all the things.
05:12
Defense attorneys examined the evidence and prepared their arguments. And then from a forensic perspective, the transition from investigation to courtroom is a very important phase. Evidence has to be organized and presented clearly because every detail from photographs to laboratory reports has to withstand legal scrutiny.
05:36
Now, as the months turned into years after Athena's death, the legal process moved forward, seemed slow, but it was deliberate. That pace can be frustrating for the family and for the community, but it's intentional because in cases involving capital murder, every detail has to be examined carefully because the consequences are permanent.
05:58
Evidence has to be reviewed over and over and witness statements have to be verified. From a forensic standpoint, this stage is about precision and accountability. Every photograph, every report, and every medical finding becomes part of the official record, and jurors are going to use that to evaluate.
06:21
During this period, investigators and prosecutors organize the evidence collected, and that includes the audio recordings from the delivery truck, the autopsy findings, the timeline of events, and Tanner Horner's confession.
06:37
Everything has to be documented in a way that can withstand cross-examination in court. Cross-examination always kind of scared me a little bit when I was on the stand for sexual assaults because even though I know what I'm talking about, sometimes those defense attorneys are really good at making it sound like you said something different or trying to make it sound like you don't know what you're talking about.
07:05
So, each piece of evidence has to be documented in a way that can withstand that cross-examination. And I can tell you that preparation for trial involves revisiting the case over and over and over. Professionals review the notes and confirm the measurements and ensure that conclusions are supported by facts.
07:26
So, the goal here is for them not to tell a story, but to present evidence that can be tested under oath. For Athena's family, this was a long waiting period. Waiting for everything, waiting for court dates, waiting for updates, waiting for justice to move forward.
07:45
And that waiting can be one of the most difficult parts of the process because grief doesn't pause while all of these legal proceedings are unfolding. Families have to continue living their lives while they carry the heavy weight of this loss.
08:02
Now, on April 7th, 2026, the case reached a significant turning point. Tanner Horner entered a guilty plea to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in the death of Athena Strand. A guilty plea in a capital case is a powerful moment because it actually removes the question of responsibility.
08:22
He acknowledged that he committed the crime. However, in states like Texas, a guilty plea does not end the case when capital punishment is involved. Instead, the trial moves into the sentencing phase.
08:37
So, that phase is where jurors actually decide the punishment. And in Texas, the options for capital murder are life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. So, this decision rests entirely with the jury.
08:55
And they have to evaluate aggravating factors, mitigating factors, and the evidence presented during the sentencing proceedings. A guilty plea shifts the focus of the courtroom. The question, again, is no longer whether or not he committed the crime, but how severe the punishment should be.
09:15
When the sentencing phase began, prosecutors presented evidence detailing the events of November 30th, 2022, and they described the abduction, the assault, and the recovery of Athena's body. But they also introduced the audio recordings from inside the delivery truck, and those became one of the most emotional pieces of evidence in this case.
09:37
Jurors listened to those sounds captured during the abduction, and they heard Athena asking questions. They heard her trying to understand what was happening. They heard the fear in her voice. And reports from the courtroom indicated that a lot of jurors became visibly emotional during this testimony.
09:55
And I can only imagine emotional reactions are not uncommon, but the human response to suffering, especially the suffering of a child, can be profound. I've witnessed a lot of courtroom reactions like this before.
10:12
Evidence that captures real-time events carries a unique emotional weight. It's not an abstract description. It's a direct record of actually what occurred. And that kind of evidence can really shape how jurors perceive the seriousness of the crime.
10:29
During the sentencing proceedings, forensic evidence, of course, plays a critical role in helping the jurors understand the nature of this crime, and medical testimony explains the injury sustained by the victim and the mechanism of death.
10:45
Investigators describe the sequence of events, and each piece of testimony contributes to a comprehensive picture of what happened. So, everybody's testimony is important. In this case, the medical examiner's findings were presented to the jury, and he explained that Athena died from blunt voice trauma, smothering, and strangulation.
11:07
And those findings confirm, obviously, that the death was not accidental and that significant force was involved and also helped establish the severity of the violence. From my perspective, medical testimony often becomes one of the most impactful elements in a capital case because jurors look up to people in the medical profession.
11:30
They rely on medical professionals to translate a lot of those scientific findings into language that they can understand. And that's one thing that they always told us was important. We documented sexual assaults and deaths.
11:45
It's important to use language that the average person can understand and to stay away from all the medical terms as much as you can. And a lot of people that do death investigation don't have medical background.
12:00
A lot of them are police officers. They haven't had that medical terminology 101 course, but they want to know how the injuries occurred and how long the victim may have suffered and whether the actions were intentional.
12:16
So, the clarity of that testimony can really influence decisions when it comes to sentencing. It really provides the factual foundation of determining whether or not this crime meets the legal threshold for the death penalty.
12:31
And in capital sentencing, prosecutors present what are known as aggravating factors. And these are elements of the crime that increase its severity. They may include the vulnerability of Athena, the nature of the violence, and the circumstances surrounding the offense.
12:51
In Athena's case, prosecutors actually emphasized several aggravating factors. One of the most significant was her age. Children are considered particularly vulnerable under the law. Another factor was the deliberate nature of the abduction.
13:10
The act of taking a child from her own home and transporting her to another location demonstrated planning and it demonstrated intent. And prosecutors highlighted the physical violence involved in this crime.
13:26
A combination of injuries documented by the medical examiner reflected sustained force, and these details were presented to help jurors understand just how serious this was. Now, let's talk a little bit about what mitigating factors are.
13:42
Mitigating factors are presented by the defense attorneys to try to help reduce the severity of punishment. And so, these are going to include the defendant's background, his mental health history, personal circumstances that may have caused him to act this way.
14:00
But mitigating evidence does not excuse the crime. It actually provides context for jurors to consider when they determine the appropriate sentence. The legal system requires that jurors evaluate aggravating and mitigating factors before they reach a decision.
14:19
And that makes sense. I mean, you got to hear both sides, but that balance reflects the complexity of the justice system. Sentencing is not solely about punishment. It's also about fairness and proportionality.
14:34
And you have to adhere to the legal standards. Throughout the sentencing phase, members of the community continued to follow the case closely, and many people watched these proceedings on court TV. Others read news reports or discussed the case with friends and family.
14:50
And so, the visibility of this trial has definitely kept Athena's story in the public eye. Community interest can influence the atmosphere surrounding a trial, and it reminds jurors and legal professionals that the case extends beyond the courtroom.
15:07
It's affecting families, it's affecting neighbors, and it's affecting the entire community. For Athena's family, the sentencing phase represents another chapter in a very long journey through grief and justice.
15:24
Courtroom testimony required them to actually revisit a lot of painful memories, but, them being there actually reflects their strength and their determination. As someone who works in forensic death investigation, I've seen firsthand how capital cases unfold.
15:44
They are among the most complex and emotionally charged proceedings in the legal system. The decision between life imprisonment and death is not taken lightly, and jurors have to weigh this evidence very carefully.
16:00
They have to consider the legal standards and reflect on the moral implications of their choice. In cases involving children, the emotional stakes are high. The loss of a young life resonates deeply.
16:15
We always hear about prisoners being murdered because they go to prison and the other prisoners don't like that they have killed a child or sexually assaulted a child. At the same time, the legal system requires objectivity, and decisions have to be based on evidence and not just emotion.
16:37
That balance is the heart of capital sentencing. It's a process designed to ensure that justice is measured, that it's deliberate, and also that it's fair. Jurors are responsible for determining the final sentence, and this decision is going to establish whether Tanner Horner spends the rest of his life in prison without parole or receives the death penalty.
17:01
Regardless of the outcome, this case has already left a lasting impact on everybody. It's changed a family forever. It's shaken the community. And it's reminded a lot of people of the importance of vigilance, accountability, and compassion.
17:20
The work of the investigators, medical examiners, and legal professionals represents a commitment to truth. And their role is to document facts, preserve evidence, and ensure that justice is guided by accuracy.
17:37
One thought stays with me in this case above all others is to always remember that every case file represents a life that mattered. And Athena Strand was not just a victim. She was a child and she had dreams and friends and a future.
17:57
But her story is now part of a legal record, but her memory belongs to the people who loved her. The purpose, again, of discussing cases like this isn't really just to dwell on tragedy because this is a horrible case.
18:16
It's not one that we really want to think about every day, but we want to know that this guy gets what he deserves. But the purpose of discussing cases like this is to seek understanding, accountability, and prevention.
18:33
It's to honor the lives that were lost and to support the families who carry the loss. Justice in a legal sense may come in the form of a sentence, but remembrance comes in the form of telling the truth about what happened.
18:49
And so that is why I continue to tell stories like this. Like I said, they're not all pleasant, especially cases involving children. I think I said from the beginning that I really didn't want to cover this case, but I feel like it's so important.
19:07
Tanner Horner is 35, and I want to talk a little bit about other details that have been uncovered during the testimony. So, when he was approached by the police, he allegedly admitted to taking her and confessing that she was dead.
19:28
And he did say initially that he accidentally hit her with the van and he was afraid to tell her dad. And so, he panicked and decided to kill her. He said that when he attempted to break her neck, it didn't work.
19:42
So, he strangled her with his bare hands in the FedEx van. Now, Athena at the time was living with her father and stepmother. She had been sorting laundry in a converted storage shed that served as her and her sister's bedroom when she disappeared.
20:01
I want to go into a little bit about the evidence that was uncovered during the specific days of the trial. And I think I may do that in the next episode because I want to be able to talk about each thing as it went down.
20:19
A couple of things that were uncovered, Athena's body was found 12 to 13 miles from her house in the Trinity River. And I just want to go over like, you know, all the different days of the courtroom testimony and who testified and what was said and cover that more in detail.
20:40
I don't have time in this episode to actually do that. So, we're going to do that in a third episode. Sorry, y'all was planning on this just being two, but I really kind of want to go through the day-by-day court testimony.
20:54
I feel like that that's important. And not everybody has had the opportunity to watch this every day and to see how this case has unfolded and to hear some of the evidence and to hear a little bit about, you know, Tanner Horner's background and history and things that people have said about him and experiences that they've had about him.
21:15
I would like to kind of talk a little bit about that. None of that gives him any excuse, but I feel like it's important to just kind of educate y'all on all the things that were brought to light during the trial.
21:28
So, I would really like to discuss that in episode three. We're going to do that just to make sure that y'all have all of the information I can get that is kind of straight from the horse's mouth and accurate.
21:42
Also, I was going to mention something here in Texas, we've had some really bad tornadoes, and it's supposed to storm again. I know a lot of people don't like me talking about weather, but we have a lot of weather-related deaths, and we've had some in this area.
22:02
It's crazy when you look back at the pictures and this is in over in the Bridgeport area of Texas. You look at the pictures in the video and it's like one house is completely demolished and gone, and the one right next door is completely untouched.
22:21
And that just proves that these storms, you know, you never know their path. You never know. And we always watch the weather because we're kind of in what they call tornado alley. And it's very common for tornadoes to happen down that I-35 corridor.
22:38
And so, it happens. You know, Kansas gets hit and Texas gets hit. And we've had big tornadoes in Fort Worth and Dallas and large cities too. But it seems like it impacts the smaller communities more because the homes are spread out a little more.
22:58
Anyway, we're on high alert, I think, because we're supposed to have some tornadoes in the next few days. So not much about the weather, but a little bit. Just watch the weather forecast if you're in our area because there's supposed to be hail and there's supposed to be tornadoes.
23:12
I always just worry about that because we're so prone to bad storms during this time of year. I have to admit, I've been missing a little bit, not being in the medical examiner's office and not knowing what's going on.
23:25
It's kind of like FOMO, you know, fear of missing out. And I have had several officers text me and ask me, hey, can you tell me about this case or what happened with this case? And I'm like, dude, I don't work there anymore.
23:39
I can't just go into the computer and look it up like I used to be able to. And it's hard because I like to know. I think I realize now that I'm really nosier than I thought I was because part of the fun is, again, being able to ask those questions that you can't normally ask and also knowing things that other people don't know.
24:01
That was kind of part of the fun of it. So, I'm missing it for that reason. Of course, I miss my coworkers, but investigations… is, just like, a part of who I am, I think. I love being able to educate. Again, I'm working on an education program to kind of help teach people how to investigate, to help nurses who are interested in forensics maybe find a way to get their foot in the door.
24:29
Because I love to see people succeed. And I really want to help educate people. And I will most likely be speaking at some conferences, also be a vendor so you can get merch at different conferences.
24:43
I've had a lot of forensic organizations reach out to me asking me to be a vendor and I would love to do that, but it's hard to travel a lot and not get paid. So, I may try to do that. Again, if you or anyone you know has a business that is interested in sponsoring, we actually give shout outs and do advertisements during the podcast.
25:13
We can also include swag from that company in our cereal box that gets mailed out monthly to subscribers. It's definitely an advertising expense for any company. And then also, if you're a smaller company and you want to work out some sort of trade for advertisements, I'm willing to do that too.
25:36
So small businesses, big businesses, anybody that would like a sponsorship, we are trying to reach over 100,000 subscribers before CrimeCon. So, this is before the end of May. Greatly appreciated if you would share the podcast with all of your friends and subscribe.
26:00
Set your platform so that it downloads every episode. Those episodes will be there for you to listen to later, but those downloads actually help me get more followings and more visibility. So again, I appreciate y'all so much and stay tuned.
26:19
Next week, we're going to talk more about the Athena Strand trial. We're going to talk about people who have testified. We're going to talk more about Athena, more about the family, special agents and investigators that testified, and give you a little bit of insight to what happened in the courtroom that you may not be aware of because some of us work, right?
26:46
We can't watch the trial every day, but I think most of us would have liked to just because we're curious. I look forward to talking to y'all next week. Have a great week. Bye, y'all. Thank you so much for joining me today on Pushing Up Lilies.
27:04
If you like this podcast and would like to share with others, please do me a quick favor and leave a review on Apple Podcast. This helps to make the podcast more visible to the public. Thanks again for spending your time with me and be sure to visit me at pushinguplilies.com for merchandise and past episodes.