Teenagers testify about sexual assaults by Tanner Horner during trial

Two women have provided emotional testimony during the sentencing phase of Tanner Horner’s capital murder trial, describing sexual assaults they suffered as teenagers.

On Friday, the witnesses appeared before a jury tasked with deciding whether Horner, 34, should receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

The testimony detailed incidents occurring nearly a decade before Horner, a former FedEx driver, kidnapped and murdered seven-year-old Athena Strand in November 2022.

Both women stated they did not come forward until after Horner’s high-profile arrest, with one witness expressing profound guilt, fearing that a prior report might have prevented subsequent tragedies.

The first witness testified that she was just 16 when she met Horner in 2013. She alleged that he assaulted her twice that summer while she was too intoxicated to consent, despite her clearly stating she did not want a romantic relationship.

A second woman described a similar "freeze" response during an assault that occurred after she fell asleep following a social gathering.

Prosecutors introduced these testimonies to establish a pattern of violent behaviour, while the defence reportedly challenged the credibility of the claims.

Horner has since been indicted in Tarrant County on separate charges of sexual assault of a child linked to these historical allegations.

Earlier this month, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated kidnapping. Authorities established that he abducted Athena Strand while delivering a package to her Wise County home, later killing her to cover up the crime.

As the sentencing phase continues, the jury remains sequestered to deliberate on the final verdict for the crimes that have devastated the local community.