JURORS sobbed in court on Thursday as the chilling audio of Athena Strand’s last moments were played, where she asked her killer, “Are you a kidnapper?” multiple times.
Tanner Horner, 34, is currently on trial where the jury is determining whether he should receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to Athena’s murder.
Jurors were warned since the trial began that the testimony in the case included gruesome information, including Horner’s first words to Athena “Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you.“
When audio from her final moments played in court on Friday, at least one local outlet cut its feed due to the content.
Judge George Gallagher warned the courtroom on Thursday that they had one last chance to leave before the recording of Athena’s final moments would be played for the jury, KXAS-TV, an NBC affiliate in Dallas Fort Worth, reported.
“If you think you cannot watch it or listen to it, leave now. Now’s your time to get out,” the judge said.
Reporters in the courtroom said the footage showed Horner picking up Athena and putting her in the truck before closing the door.
Athena was heard asking Horner, “Are you a kidnapper?” multiple times while inside of the truck, KXAS-TV reported.
Horner ordered her to sit down, telling her to not scream or he will hurt her.
Horner later covered the camera inside of the truck, cutting out any visuals, and leaving behind an audio recording.
Several of Athena’s loved ones left the courtroom several minutes in to the video.
Horner admitted to striking the seven-year-old with his truck when he was backing out of her driveway in 2022.
The man said he panicked and threw her in his van where he tried to snap her neck before he strangled her.
Athena’s body found six miles away from her hometown two days after she was last seen.
In the recording shown on Thursday, it appeared the truck stopped at one point, where Horner told the child, “hang out for a minute.”
Horner was reportedly heard asking Athena to remove her shirt, where she said “no” several times and asked for her mom.
The interaction was followed by repeated sounds of screaming, crying and banging.
Some of the jurors sobbed as the audio continued, according to KXAS-TV.
The footage also revealed Horner made small talk with the child, asking her age, where she goes to school, and what her teacher’s name is.
Athena answered his questions, and Horner was later heard on the audio telling her, “You’re really pretty. You know that?”
The judge stopped the recording early Thursday afternoon as the court was ordered to recess for lunch, but the jury was expected to hear an additional 30 minutes of audio from inside the truck.
Athena’s parents, who testified in the trial, were not present when the video played.
Additional details have been revealed in court in recent weeks, including how Athena was likely sexually assaulted after cops found Horner’s DNA in “places where you shouldn’t find DNA on a seven-year-old girl.“
Body cam footage from police who searched Horner’s home showed Horner telling cops that he disposed of Athena’s clothing after killing her.
“Are you saying you stripped her naked and threw her clothes out the window on the highway?” an officer asked.
“I thought it was funny,” Horner said.
The 34-year-old has also claimed that his alter ego, named “Zero” committed the murder after he struggled to calm Athena down.
Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder of a child under 10 and aggravated kidnapping, soon before he was set to go on trial.