Fedex Driver Kidnaps, Strangles 7YO, Gets DP | Crime Alert 05.06.26

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Fedex Driver Who Kidnapped, Strangled 7YO Gets DP | Crime Alert 05.06.26
Date: May 6, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers an urgent and emotional breakdown of two high-profile crime stories, led by coverage of the sentencing of Tanner Horner, an ex-FedEx driver convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand in Texas. The episode also includes a report on a Florida mother, Renee Lambert, arrested for kicking a child during a youth football game. The focus is on court developments, testimony from the victim’s family, and the societal impact of these crimes.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Sentencing of Tanner Horner: The Athena Strand Case

• Background and Verdict

  • After 19 days of emotional testimony, Tanner Horner has been sentenced to death for the 2022 murder of Athena Strand, a 7-year-old girl (00:09).
  • Horner was a FedEx driver delivering a Christmas present when the crime occurred.

• Courtroom Developments

  • Defense attorney Susan Anderson appealed for mercy, asking the jury to sentence Horner to life without parole, emphasizing the possibility of redemption (00:35).
  • District Attorney James Stainton countered this by emphasizing Horner’s lack of mercy and remorse, asking the jury to remember whether Horner deserved leniency (00:47).

• Jury Decision

  • The jury deliberated for roughly two and a half hours before returning the death penalty verdict (00:55).
  • Horner showed no visible emotion as the verdict was read, only speaking to agree to legal counsel for his appeal (01:00).

• Family Impact Statements

  • Athena’s uncle addressed Horner directly in court, expressing the wide-reaching pain caused by Athena’s loss (see Notable Quotes).

• Crime Details

  • Horner struck Athena with his van, panicked, and strangled her to prevent her from telling her family. The crime occurred as he was delivering a Barbie doll intended for her (01:54).
  • Horner wrote a letter to Athena’s family, apologizing and acknowledging the irreparable harm he caused (02:24).

2. Testimony from Athena’s Family

• Mother’s Testimony (Maitland Gandy)
  • Gandy recounted the moment she learned her daughter was missing, describing the anguish as like a heart attack (03:07).
  • She revealed the heartbreaking burden of explaining Athena’s absence to her younger daughter, lying for over a year out of inability to explain the truth.
  • Gandy described the pain of attempting to watch the video of Athena’s murder, expressing deep sympathy for the jury who had to witness it (03:37).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"[Tanner,] you did not just take a life. You destroy the family. You took a little girl who trusted the world and repaid that innocence with violence. You chose to cause pain that will last generations...you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena's story. Her name will forever be remembered...and everyone will forget you."
— Athena Strand's Uncle (01:10)

"I will make sure that every person in this world knows that she was loved and that she wanted to live and we want her in our lives. And I'm very sorry."
— Maitland Gandy, Athena’s Mother (02:46)

"I'm sorry to you and I'm sorry to y’all too. Because none of us, not Athena, not me, not anyone in this room besides Tanner Horner asked for what's on that video and Athena definitely didn't."
— Maitland Gandy (03:49)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:09 – Sydney Silvani reports the sentencing of Tanner Horner.
• 00:35 – Defense and prosecutor’s closing statements.
• 01:10 – Athena's uncle's courtroom statement.
• 01:45 – Family withholding further comment for now.
• 01:50 – Reporter summarizes crime details, Horner’s guilty plea, and letter to family.
• 02:46 – Mother Maitland Gandy’s emotional remarks.
• 03:07 – Gandy's testimony about her family’s grief and the impact of crime scene evidence.
• 03:49 – Gandy addresses the jury about the video.
• 04:11 – Transition to the second major story (Florida youth football incident).

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Secondary Story: Florida Football Game Altercation

• Incident Overview

  • Renee Lambert, a Florida mother, was arrested after storming a Pop Warner youth football game and kicking a juvenile player (04:11).
  • Lambert claimed retaliation after being hit with a helmet, but video evidence contradicted her account.

• Chaotic Arrest

  • Deputies’ bodycam audio reveals the struggle to detain an uncooperative Lambert (05:01–05:45).
  • Lambert faces charges of child abuse (without great bodily harm) and resisting an officer.

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Podcast Tone and Noteworthy Elements

• The tone is somber, urgent, and direct, with deep empathy for victims and a focus on the injustices faced.
• Victim impact statements are powerful, offering listeners insight into the harrowing grief experienced by families.
• The Crime Alert format delivers concise, fact-heavy news with compelling real-world voices.

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Summary for New Listeners

This episode of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace deeply explores the devastating consequences of horrific crimes on victims and their families, using the Texas Athena Strand case as a focal point. Through powerful courtroom moments and family testimony, listeners bear witness to the pain, resilience, and pursuit of justice that follows such tragedies. A secondary, highly-charged segment on a Florida mom’s violent outburst at a football game underscores the podcast’s commitment to covering timely, newsworthy crimes.

Listeners are left with a sobering perspective on both the legal system’s response and the enduring impact on those left behind.

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Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human crime alert. Hourly update. Breaking crime news now.

[Sydney Silvani]

I'm Sydney Silvani. After 19 days of emotional testimony, Tanner Horner has been sentenced to death for killing a young girl. He was supposed to be delivering a Christmas present to. A Tarrant County, Texas jury heard closing arguments from both sides Tuesday morning. Defense attorney Susan Anderson pleaded with jurors to be merciful in deciding Horner's fate. I want you to vote for life. Sentenced Tanner to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But District Attorney James Stainton made a strong rebuttal. Was Tanner merciful? Was Tanner vengeful? Did he show remorse? No. And I think that's important. The jury took roughly two and a half hours to come to the decision Horner should face execution. Horner remained stoic as the verdict was read, only speaking to agree to appointed counsel for his automatic appeal process. The uncle of victim Athena Strand was the only family member to address Horner in court yesterday.

[Athena Strand's Uncle]

You did not just take a life. You destroy the family. You took a little girl who trusted the world and repaid that innocence with violence. You chose to cause pain that will last generations. But I want you to know that you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena's story. Her name will forever be remembered. Her name will forever be celebrated, and everyone will forget you.

[Sydney Silvani]

The rest of Athena's family says they are not yet ready to comment on the outcome of the trial.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Horner, a former FedEx driver, pleaded guilty to the 2022 kidnapping and capital murder of 7 year old Athena Strand just as the trial began, leaving the jury to decide his punishment. The details of the crime are haunting. Horner was delivering a Barbie doll intended as a Christmas gift for Athena when he struck her with his van. He told investigators that although she wasn't seriously injured by the vehicle, he panicked and strangled her to death in his van to keep her from telling her father or stepmother. Following Athena's murder, Horner wrote a letter to Athena's family in which he claimed he could no longer stay silent. Despite his legal team's advice, Horner wrote, so many were affected by my breakdown. Not just your family, but my own as well. He admitted to countless nights of being unable to sleep, writing that he prays for the family but acknowledges the permanent void he created. You'll never get to see your baby girl grow up, and I'm sorry.

[Maitland Gandy]

And I will make sure that every person in this world knows that she was loved and that she wanted to live and we want her in our lives. And I'M very sorry.

[Sydney Silvani]

Three weeks ago, Athena's mother, Maitland Gandy, took the stand.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Gandy described the physical pain of the loss, stating it felt like she was having a heart attack. When she first heard her daughter was missing. She revealed the heartbreaking toll on her family, admitting she lied to Athena's three year old sister for over a year, telling her athen Athena was staying with her father and couldn't come to the phone because she was sleeping or at school, incapable of finding words to explain what happened. When asked if she had watched the video of Horner killing her daughter, Gandy said she could only stomach a few minutes, sharing her sympathy for the jury who had to watch it, telling them no one, especially Athena, asked for what happened in those final moments

[Maitland Gandy]

to watch that. I am so sorry. I'm sorry to you and I'm sorry to y' all too. Because none of us, not Athena, not me, not anyone in this room besides Tanner Horner asked for what's on that video and Athena definitely didn't.

[Sydney Silvani]

More crime and justice news after this. A Florida mom was arrested Saturday after chaos erupted at a youth football game, ending with the adult woman allegedly kicking a child. According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Renee Lambert stormed a Pop Warner game at Brooks park in Fort Myers and kicked a juvenile player. Deputies working security said they were called to the field after a fight broke out between players following a play. Video reviewed by police showed Lambert running onto the field and kicking a juvenile player. Lambert claimed the child hit her with a helmet, prompting retaliation, but investigators said that claim was not supported by the evidence. Body cam footage captures a tense, profanity laced confrontation as deputies attempt to detain her.

[Renee Lambert]

Don't you mad at them for hitting me?

[Deputy]

I'm mad at an adult for attacking her kids. Stop. You're detained right now.

[Renee Lambert]

No, I'm not.

[Deputy]

You are. You are. Stop. Don't around with me.

[Renee Lambert]

You don't the one who got hit.

[Deputy]

You are being pointed out as being a suspect right now. You are detained. You are detained.

[Renee Lambert]

So where's number nine? Go get number nine.

[Deputy]

A kid?

[Renee Lambert]

Yes.

[Deputy]

You're an adult.

[Renee Lambert]

I didn't do anything like you're get my son. Y better get my son.

[Deputy]

She's detained because they said you hit a kid and the kid hit me.

[Sydney Silvani]

The footage ends with a chaotic scene as deputies attempt to place Lambert in handcuffs. Lambert is now charged with child abuse without great bodily harm in resisting an officer. For the latest crime and justice breaking news, be sure to tune in tomorrow on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert. I'm Sydney Silvani.

[Podcast Host]

This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.