Horner Pleads Guilty, Autism Defense in Athena Strand Case

0:00It's April 8th. Dallas News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Tanner Horner, the man accused of killing seven-year-old Athena Strand, shocked everyone by pleading guilty to capital murder and aggravated. Kidnapping right as his trial began. The trial started Tuesday in Taren County after Judge George Gallagher shifted it over from Wise County to ensure a fair process. His defense team is now fighting to scrap the death penalty, highlighting Horner's autism spectrum disorder as a key factor. They claim it cuts down his moral responsibility, undercuts the point of execution, and raises risks of a bad outcome. With guilt locked in, the focus shifts to sentencing, leaving folks waiting on what comes next for justice in this heartbreaking case.