Overview
- Following Wednesday’s emotional testimony from Athena Strand’s mother, prosecutors are expected to finish their case Thursday with the girl’s father and the lead Texas Ranger taking the stand.
- Jurors are set to hear audio recorded inside the FedEx van Horner drove during the abduction, with the court indicating the clip will be played in the courtroom.
- Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and kidnapping at the start of the trial, leaving the panel to decide between death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- The medical examiner testified that Athena’s cause of death included blunt force injuries, smothering and strangulation.
- Texas later adopted an “Athena Alert,” which lets police issue Amber-style warnings for missing children even when some original alert criteria are not yet met.