FEDEX killer Tanner Horner should never have been left alone in the truck where he strangled Athena Strand, his childhood therapist has said.

Horner pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing Athena, 7, in his truck after taking her from the driveway of her home in Wise County, Texas, in 2022.

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An image was released showing Athena Strand in the back of Tanner Horner’s FedEx truck before her deathCredit: CBS
 

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Jurors are deciding whether or not Horner should be sentenced to life in prison without parole or deathCredit: AP
 

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Athena Strand was killed after she was abducted from her home in 2022Credit: Family Handout
Jurors are now listening to testimonies to determine whether or not the 34-year-old should be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

Horner said he panicked after he struck the child while reversing out of the driveway in her Texas home and later strangled her.

However, prosecutors have argued he did not hit Athena, painting it as a “pattern and web of lies.”

As the defence presents its case, the court heard from Horner’s childhood speech and behavior therapist Beth, who worked with him at school and home.

Song FedEx driver sang to Athena Strand as he strangled her to death

Testimonies about his childhood revealed that Horner was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and the court heard if this can be used as part of his defense.

Horner’s team asked the now-retired speech pathologist if she thought Horner’s autism was the reason for Athena’s murder, to which she said no, per KDFW, but said she was shocked that he was left alone in the truck.

“Do you feel it’s a defense to what he did?” the defense asked her.

“No, I don’t. I’ll tell you where it comes in. In my mind, this young man should have never been in that truck by himself,” she said.

Beth said Horner may have reacted differently to the situation if someone were in the truck with him.

Prosecutors asked if her opinion would change knowing there is evidence Horner did not strike the child with the FedEx truck, and she said no.

“My opinion will always be he should have had another adult in the car with him. What it does, it makes me wonder what the whole thing was about,” she said.

The court also heard from Horner’s mother who broke down in tears as she discussed her troubled childhood and drug use, revealing she now carries guilt after her son committed murder.

“I’m wearing my shame like a badge right now,” she said per KXAS.

“I’m so mad at him,” she said. “She was just a little girl.”

She was asked by the defense if she still loved her son. She became emotional, prompting the judge to order a break.

“Of course I love my son,” she told the court. “I don’t love who did that, though.”

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Horner was seen cleaning FedEx truck after killing AthenaCredit: FOX 4
 

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Horner’s speech pathologist said he could be thrown off by something out of the ordinary interrupting his daily scheduleCredit: Getty
She described raising Horner and his brother while moving in and out of rehab facilities and said she was still doing drugs and drinking through the first eight weeks of her pregnancy with Horner.

It was also revealed that his father struggled with drug addiction and served time in jail.

Horner admitted to killing Athena before he was set to go on trial, telling investigators he threw her in the back of the van before killing her.

Athena’s naked body was found two days later six miles from her home near the Trinity River.

The jury has been faced with disturbingly graphic detail which caused at least one news outlet to cut its feed of the courtroom as jurors were shown video and audio of Athena’s last moments.

This included Horner’s first words to Athena, “Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you” and how Athena asked Horner multiple times, “Are you a kidnapper?” before crying out for her mom.

Some jurors sobbed as the audio played, where Horner was heard asking Athena to remove her clothes which was followed by repeated sounds of screaming, crying and banging.

Additional details have come out in court in recent weeks, including how Athena was likely sexually assaulted after police found Horner’s DNA in “places where you shouldn’t find DNA on a seven-year-old girl.“

Body cam footage captured when police searched Horner’s home revealed the 34-year-old told cops he asked the girl to remove her clothes and dumped them on the highway because he “thought it was funny.”

Horner has claimed his alter ego, named “Zero,” murdered Athena after he struggled to calm her down.

Horrifying footage from inside the truck shows Horner calmly cleaning up the crime-scene at a gas station.

Athena died from blunt force trauma, smothering, and strangulation, the medical examiner ruled.

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Maitlyn Gandy, Athena’s mother left the courtroom before the video of her daughter’s abduction was played for the juryCredit: AP
 

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Horner admitted to strangling the seven-year-old after he delivered a package with her Christmas present in it to her homeCredit: WFAA TV
 

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Soon before he was set to go to trial, Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder of a child under 10 and aggravated kidnappingCredit: Getty