The Heartbreaking Case of Athena Strand

Listen to the episode now! Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/10-to-life/id1841942565?i=1000763917208Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4nUYpUWw5VZMkzn6H7Ig3u?si=TfgioA3gSWGOudjTXlX4OQ

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Annie Elise?

  Whoever says saving money is hard doesn't know that new customers who bundle and save with Progressive save hundreds. Because switching your home and auto insurance is way better than cutting down on the things you love, like those iced lattes that help you get ready to face the day. So switch your home and auto to Progressive and see if you could save and keep sipping away. Get your quote today at progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company affiliates and other insurers not available in all states.

• 0:27Speaker 01

  Having lots of choices sounds like it would be great. Who doesn't want more flavors of ice cream? It turns out, the answer is us. Too many choices can make us anxious, overwhelmed. I'm Shankar Vedantam, host of the Hidden Brain Podcast and YouTube channel. Each week, Hidden Brain brings you fascinating, science-backed insights about human behavior. So the next time you have to choose, choose Hidden Brain on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or hiddenbrain.org.

• 0:57Speaker 02

  Time for a quick break to talk about McDonald's. It's the tangiest time of the year. For a limited time, head to McDonald's and get a McRib sandwich. Make it a meal by adding a medium fries and a soft drink like an ice cold Diet Dr. Pepper. So grab a McRib sandwich and embrace the tang. Save time by ordering ahead on the app. At participating McDonald's for a limited time. Dr. Pepper is a registered trademark of Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Inc.

• 1:22Speaker 03

  The Capitol murder trial for former delivery driver Tanner Horner resumes in a few hours without the jury.

• 1:28Speaker 04

  Jurors cried some week openly as the prosecution played the audio recording from inside Tanner Horner's delivery truck. Seven-year-old Athena Strand asking if he is a kidnapper. Horner telling her to take off her shirt. Athena crying and screaming for her mom, telling Horner, "My mom says you can't do that to me." The sound of a brutal murder and Athena's final gasp for air.

• 1:57Annie Elise?

  This is the story of seven-year-old Athena Strand, who was abducted right outside of her home by a FedEx delivery driver, who was actually dropping off a Christmas present for Athena, a set of Barbies for her for Christmas, that package. And even just saying that, it still doesn't feel real. This guy was dropping off a Christmas gift for her and as the seven-year-old innocent little girl and then abducts her. But what we have learned since then, not only about the crime itself, but about Tanner, this monster, his past, the allegations against him, the predatory behavior, it paints an even more disturbing, more horrifying picture than we originally knew.

• 2:41Annie Elise?

  Because now, through the trial and the footage and the audio recordings that have come out, investigators believe that this was not only a sexually motivated crime, but a truly evil crime of opportunity. We also now know that Athena was asking him for her mom, that at one point she even asked him point-blank, "Are you a kidnapper?" Which, just hearing that, it breaks your heart. Now, back in my original deep dive, I shared my initial thoughts based on the limited information that we had at the time. And unfortunately, a lot of those early instincts have since been confirmed. I also went into his background, the allegations, the women who have come forward, all of it.

• 3:25Annie Elise?

  So today, what I want to do is reopen Athena's case. And if you're new here or new to this format, when I do a reopened episode, I walk you through the original case as it unfolded in real time, but I also layer in everything that we know now. The new evidence, the trial updates, the context that we didn't have back then. Because the original episode, it was recorded within days of Athena being abducted and then found. And so much has come out since then. As a quick reminder, in these reopened episodes, you may hear a slight difference in audio quality here or there because equipment has changed over time. But the goal in doing these episodes is to give you a full, comprehensive picture of the case. Now I do want to give a little bit of a warning.

• 4:10Annie Elise?

  This is one of the most unsettling and disturbing cases I have ever covered. And even following this trial in real time has been incredibly difficult. I'll be honest with you, there were moments where I genuinely didn't know if I was going to reopen this case. It's incredibly difficult to hear. But Athena's story, it deserves to be told. Her voice deserves to be heard. So take a quick second, hit that like button, hit the subscribe button, hit the follow button on your podcast. I'm Annie Elise, this is 10 to Life, and today we are reopening the case of Athena Strand. Let's jump right in.

• 4:53Annie Elise?

  All right, everybody, what you just heard is a sneak preview from our case coverage of the Athena Strand case. This episode released last week on my second true crime podcast feed, 10 to Life. Also, the trial just wrapped up, the sentencing phase is complete. He was sentenced to the death penalty. But the full case, not only covering Athena's case and what happened to her, but covering the trial and past allegations from Tanners, past and other women, that episode is out right now on the 10 to Life feed. So I know a lot of you have been requesting it. It is available. You can go listen right now. I will link it in the show notes for you.

• 5:36Speaker 05

  Hey, this is Jeff Lewis from Radio Andy. Live and uncensored, catch me talking with my friends about my latest obsessions, relationship issues, and bodily ailments. With that kind of drama that seems to follow me, you never know what's going to happen.

• 5:48Speaker 06

  You can listen to Jeff Lewis live at home or anywhere you are. Download the Sirius XM app for over 425 channels of ad-free music, sports, entertainment, and more. Subscribe now and get three months free. Offer details apply.

• 6:06Speaker 07

  Hi, I'm Jake Grez, also known as Nurse Jake. As a travel nurse, I've worked in all kinds of places, different settings, cities, and climates. Every assignment brings on a new challenge, which is why I always bring my Figs. These scrubs are built for whatever the job throws at you. They're breathable, flexible, and comfortable in any environment. No matter where I land, I know they're going to keep me looking and feeling my best. And don't sleep on the details. The pockets, the features, the finishing touches, everything has a purpose and it makes a real difference when you're moving nonstop. The fit is clean, tailored, and super polished, and they come in a huge range of colors. In other words, they feel great throughout a 12-hour shift and they always look good. See every healthcare professional on Instagram. If you work in healthcare or know someone who does, check

• 6:49Speaker 07

  out Figs and get 15% off your first order at wearfigs.com with code FIGSRX. That's wearfigs.com code FIGSRX.