Horner's Past Exposed: Lead Exposure & Family History

0:00It's April 23rd, from your city to your ears. This is Dallas News today, powered by AI. Tanner Horner's defense team is fighting hard to keep him off death row after he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murdering seven-year-old Athena, strand back in 2022. Prosecutors want the ultimate penalty, so this punishment phase in the Texas courtroom is all about his background and whether he deserves life. Instead, earlier this week, his mom and a great aunt testified and Thursday brought his paternal aunt and a cousin from his mom's side. Cameras blurred their faces to protect identities and no names were used. The ant described Horner as different from other kids, hyper, sometimes aggressive, even swallowing coins as a baby. Prosecutors pushed back during cross-examination, getting both women to admit they had tough upbringings too, but never turned to killing, assault, or kidnapping. It highlights how the defense paints Horner as shates by his past, while the state says choices matter regardless.

1:01Then came a key expert, Aaron Specht, an assistant professor from Purdue University, specializing in environmental health. He tested Horner's bones and found lead levels 24 times higher than average for his age, pointing to heavy childhood exposure that could. Cousserious brain issues. The case continues as both sides build their arguments, with a jury deciding if Horner's history spares him from execution or not.