Tanner Horner's Trial: Autism Defense in Texas Murder

0:00It's April 6th. Welcome to Dallas News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with the story. A high profile capital murder trial kicks off this Tuesday in Tarant County, Texas, putting Tanner Horner on trial for the 2022, death of seven-year-old Athena Strand. The former FedEx driver faces aggravated kidnapping and capital murder charges for a girl under 10, with prosecutors pushing for the death penalty if. He's convicted. Back on Christmas Eve in Wise County, Horner was dropping off a package at a Athena's home when he accidentally backed his truck over her in the fall, driveway. He told investigators she wasn't her bad at first, but he panicked, loaded her into his van, and ended up strangling her to cover it up. This case has gripped North Texas because of the victim's tender age and vulnerability, drawing massive attention and raw emotion from everyone. Involved. Families, locals, and legal watchers are glued to it, knowing a kid's tragic end like this hits different. Tanner got indicted back on February 16, 2023, pleaded not guilty, and his defense is

1:03zeroing in on his autism diagnosis too. Fight the death penalty during sentencing. Experts say his confession could seal the guilt phase quick, making jury selection the real battleground to sway the outcome. As the courtroom drama unfolds this week, all eyes stay locked on how the evidence and arguments play out. It would be a defining moment in Texas justice.