*After this recording, and on the morning of the trial, Tanner Horner plead guilty to the murder of Athena Strand. The trial must continue on, despite the plea, so that the jury can decide whether or not Tanner will receive the death penalty.

A FedEx delivery. A quiet rural home. And within days, a confession that would devastate an entire community. In this episode of Hidden True Crime, Lauren Matthias breaks down the heartbreaking case of Athena Strand, the 7-year-old who vanished from her family’s property in Paradise, Texas—only for investigators to uncover a chilling truth involving delivery driver Tanner Lynn Horner. From the critical clue left behind—a package of Christmas Barbies—to the disturbing confession, alleged prior behavior, and the legal battle ahead, we walk through every detail leading up to trial. But beyond the timeline, this episode asks the deeper question: how does something so ordinary become the moment everything changes? And what hidden motives lie beneath a crime that feels impossible to comprehend?

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About Hidden True Crime

What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling.

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