The Heartbreaking Case of Athena Strand - Serialously with Annie Elise

Summary4 min read

Serialously with Annie Elise
Episode: The Heartbreaking Case of Athena Strand
Date: May 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Serialously, hosted by true-crime sleuth Annie Elise, reopens the tragic case of 7-year-old Athena Strand, who was abducted and murdered by Tanner Horner, a FedEx delivery driver. Focusing on both the disturbing details of the crime and the subsequent trial, Annie synthesizes new evidence, trial updates, and previously overlooked elements, offering listeners a comprehensive look at a case that shook the true crime community. The episode blends real-time reporting with Annie’s signature conversational style, aiming to honor Athena’s voice and ensure her story is fully told.

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

1. The Crime and Immediate Aftermath

[00:35] Annie Elise recounts the harrowing moments captured on audio during the commission of the crime:
- “Jurors cried, some wept openly as the prosecution played the audio recording from inside Tanner Horner’s delivery truck. 7 year old Athena Strand asking if he is a kidnapper. Horner telling her to take off her shirt. Athena crying and screaming for her mom, telling Horner, ‘My mom says you can't do that to me.’ The sound of a brutal murder and Athena’s final gasp for air.” – Annie Elise (00:35)
The episode highlights the uniquely horrific elements:
- The FedEx package was a Christmas present intended for Athena—Barbies—which underscores the senselessness of the crime.
- Annie expresses disbelief at the perpetrator’s proximity and role: “This guy was dropping off a Christmas gift for her and as the seven year old innocent little girl, and then abducts her.” (01:05)

2. Portrait of the Perpetrator – Tanner Horner

Annie details new information revealed at trial:
- Horner’s background includes predatory behaviors and prior allegations by other women.
- Audio and footage from the investigation now frame the crime as not just opportunistic, but sexually motivated and “truly evil.”
- “What we have learned since then, not only about the crime itself, but about Tanner, this monster, his past, the allegations against him, the predatory behavior, it paints an even more disturbing, more horrifying picture than we originally knew.” – Annie Elise (01:05)

3. Athena’s Voice and the Community’s Grief

The personal, human side of Athena’s story is centered:
- Annie highlights the child’s awareness and courage: “At one point she even asked him point blank, ‘Are you a kidnapper?’ Which just hearing that, it breaks your heart.” (01:05)
- The emotional toll on the court and the true crime community is amplified, with Annie noting the intense difficulty following the trial: “Even following this trial in real time has been incredibly difficult. I'll be honest with you, there were moments where I genuinely didn't know if I was going to reopen this case.” (02:48)

4. The Podcast’s Approach – “Reopened” Format

Annie explains her unique “Reopened” episode structure:
- Revisiting the original case timeline, while layering in all new evidence and context that has emerged from the trial.
- Acknowledges differences in audio quality (“equipment has changed over time”), but emphasizes the goal: comprehensive, updated storytelling.

5. Trial Outcome & Further Resources

[04:01] The host provides a brief update:
- Tanner Horner was sentenced to the death penalty after the conclusion of the trial.
- Listeners who want an even deeper dive are directed to Annie’s other podcast feed, 10 to Life, for the full case, including trial details and the testimonies of women who came forward about Horner’s past.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Jurors cried, some wept openly as the prosecution played the audio recording from inside Tanner Horner’s delivery truck. 7 year old Athena Strand asking if he is a kidnapper. Horner telling her to take off her shirt. Athena crying and screaming for her mom, telling Horner, ‘My mom says you can't do that to me.’ The sound of a brutal murder and Athena’s final gasp for air.” – Annie Elise (00:35)
“This guy was dropping off a Christmas gift for her... and then abducts her.” – Annie Elise (01:05)
“Her voice deserves to be heard.” – Annie Elise (02:58)
“I genuinely didn’t know if I was going to reopen this case. It’s incredibly difficult to hear. But Athena’s story, it deserves to be told.” – Annie Elise (02:49)

Important Timestamps

00:35–01:05: Gripping retelling of the crime, the audio recording, and Athena’s final moments
01:05–02:40: Detailed discussion on Tanner Horner’s background and new revelations from trial
02:40–03:10: Annie's reflections on following the trial, emotional impact, and commitment to telling Athena’s story
04:01: Case update—sentence and where to find more in-depth coverage

Tone & Style

The episode maintains Annie’s empathetic, conversational tone—careful with sensitive details, yet unflinching in relaying difficult truths. She acts as both investigator and advocate, underscoring the need for justice while never losing sight of Athena’s humanity.

Summary

Annie Elise’s reopening of the Athena Strand case offers listeners a harrowing but comprehensive exploration of an appalling crime, the perpetrator's disturbing history, and the community’s quest for justice. The episode stands as both a memorial to Athena and a resource for listeners seeking a nuanced, detail-rich account—reminding the audience why true crime must always remain most focused on the victims and their stories.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:00]
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[00:31]
True Crime Narrator
The Capitol murder trial for former delivery driver Tanner Horner resumes in a few hours.
[00:35]
Annie Elise
Without the jury, jurors cried, some wept openly as the prosecution played the audio recording from inside Tanner Horner's delivery truck. 7 year old Athena Strand asking if he is a kidnapper. Horner telling her to take off her shirt. Athena crying and screaming for her mom, telling Horner, my mom says you can't do that to me. The sound of a brutal murder and Athena's final gasp for air.
[01:06]
True Crime Narrator
This is the story of seven year old Athena Strand, who was abducted right outside of her home by a FedEx delivery driver who was actually dropping off a Christmas present for Athena, a set of Barbies for her for Christmas. That package, and even just saying that, it still doesn't feel real. This guy was dropping off a, a Christmas gift for her and as the seven year old innocent little girl, and then abducts her. But what we have learned since then, not only about the crime itself, but about Tanner, this monster, his past, the allegations against him, the predatory behavior, it paints an even more disturbing, more horrifying picture than we originally knew. Because now through the trial and the footage and the audio recordings that have come out, investigators believe that, that this was not only a sexually motivated crime, but a truly evil crime of opportunity. We also now know that Athena was asking him for her mom. That at one point she even asked him point blank, are you a kidnapper? Which just hearing that, it breaks your heart. Now, back in my original deep dive, I shared my initial thoughts based on the limited information that we had at the time. And unfortunately, a lot of those early instincts have seemed since been confirmed. I also went into his background, the allegations, the women who have come forward, all of it. So today what I want to do is reopen Athena's case. And if you're new here or new to this format, when I do a reopened episode, I walk you through the original case as it unfolded in real time. But I also layer in everything that we know now. The new evidence, the trial updates, the context that we didn't have back then because the original episode, it was recorded within days of Athena being abducted and then found. And so much has come out since then. As a quick reminder, in these reopened episodes, you may hear a slight difference in audio quality here or there because equipment has changed over time. But the goal in doing these episodes is to give you a full, comprehensive picture of the case. Now, I do want to give a little bit of a warning. This is one of the most unsettling and disturbing cases I have ever covered. And even following this trial in real time has been incredibly difficult. I'll be honest with you, there were moments where I genuinely didn't know if I was going to reopen this case. It's incredibly difficult to hear. But Athena's story, it deserves to be told. Her voice deserves to be heard. So take a quick second, hit that like button, hit the subscribe button, hit the follow button on your podcast. And I'm Annie Elise. This is Tend to Life. And today we are reopening the case of Athena Strand. Let's jump right in.
[04:01]
Podcast Host
All right, everybody, what you just heard is a sneak preview from our case coverage of the Athena Strand case. This episode released last week on my second true crime podcast feed, 10 to Life. Also, the trial just wrapped up. The sentencing phase is complete. He was sent sentenced to the death penalty. But the full case, not only covering Athena's case and what happened to her, but covering the trial and past allegations from Tanner's past and other women. That episode is out right now on the 10 to life feed. So I know a lot of you have been requesting it. It is available. You can go listen right now. I will link it in the show notes for you.