deaths

[spaminator]

Winnipeg couple get 12 years for killing and torturing animals
Judge sentenced Irene Lima, 56, and Chad Kabecz, 41, to 12 years in prison after they pleaded guilty last November

Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Feb 17, 2026 • 2 minute read

Winnipeg police
A Winnipeg Police Service vehicle. Photo by file /Postmedia Network
A Winnipeg couple responsible for the sickening deaths and torture of more than 90 animals received the harshest animal cruelty sentence in Canadian history.


Last week, a judge sentenced both Irene Lima, 56, and Chad Kabecz, 41, to 12 years in prison after they each pleaded guilty last November to six charges of animal cruelty.


Justice Jeffrey Harris also handed Lima and Kabecz lifetime bans on owning, possessing or being near animals.

“I cannot begin to perceive the suffering,” Harris said during sentencing, reports CTV News.

In delivering the sentence, the judge read from the Winnipeg Humane Society’s community impact statement, which documented some of the trauma experienced by staff who fielded calls from the public which included horrific details of animal abuse.

“The impact of animal cruelty cases causes ripples,” the animal shelter said in a statement share to social media.

“It touches animal rescues, pet owners, and every person in Winnipeg who believes animals deserve protection and compassion.”

The shelter said its impact statement outlined the collective hurt experienced by the horrific acts of animal cruelty.


“As an organization that advocates for those without a voice, we recognize there were more to be heard beyond the victims,” they shared.

CONTENT WARNING: DISTURBING DETAILS
The pair was arrested in October 2024 after Winnipeg Police received a report from Manitoba’s Veterinarian Animal Welfare office two months earlier about videos and photographs of animals being killed and tortured. Police said the content was posted on the dark web.

They were charged with several offences including killing or injuring animals and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

However, upon further investigation, police said an analysis of the electronic devices seized during a search warrant uncovered hundreds of videos and photographs, and thousands of encrypted communications between the duo.


Underground network
Investigators determined that the couple set up an underground black-market network in June 2024 that required new members to submit a video of themselves killing an animal to gain entry.


According to police, more than 75 animals were filmed or photographed being tortured, crushed and killed between May 20, 2024 and Oct. 7, 2024.

In addition, investigators discovered several images of child pornography had been accessed on a device belonging to Lima and Kabecz.

The pair was re-arrested in November 2024 and charged with accessing child pornography, make, print, publish or possess child pornography, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, four counts of bestiality, and six counts each of killing or injuring animals and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Police said the investigation, dubbed Project Artemis, went beyond Canada’s borders and reached several other countries. Law enforcement agencies in those countries pursued their own investigations.

Emerging threat
“While animal cruelty is illegal in Canada, our laws still fail to adequately address the possession and distribution of animal torture content, material increasingly linked to violent online extremism that targets vulnerable youth,” Humane Canada said in an online statement after the sentence was handed down.

The non-profit animal welfare organization said it will be urging the federal government to address the emerging threat of animal cruelty networks by passing Bill C-16 to “ensure these acts, and the exploitation behind them, face meaningful consequences.”

Humane Canada | Canada’s Voice for Animals on Instagram: "Breaking News! A Winnipeg couple responsible for the torture and deaths of more than 90 animals has received the harshest animal cruelty sentence in Canadian history, 12 years in prison and a

234 likes, 17 comments - humanecanada on February 11, 2026: "Breaking News! A Winnipeg couple responsible for the torture and deaths of more than 90 animals has received the harshest animal cruelty sentence in Canadian history, 12 years in prison and a lifetime ban on being around animals. In...

instagram.com

Animal Cruelty – Arrests: R24-38403 – Project Artemis | City of Winnipeg

winnipeg.ca

Winnipeg Humane Society

Justice. Today, the judge in the Lima/Kabecz case delivered an unprecedented ruling: a 12-year sentence and lifetime ban on being around animals for each perpetrator. This marks the highest...

facebook.com

Winnipeg pair sentenced to 12 years in prison on animal cruelty charges

A Winnipeg man and woman who pleaded guilty to multiple charges of animal cruelty last year learned their sentence in the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba Wednesday afternoon.

ctvnews.ca

Winnipeg couple get 12 years for killing and torturing animals

Winnipeg couple responsible for the deaths and torture of more than 90 animals received the harshest sentence in Canadian history. Read more

torontosun.com

 

[Dixie Cup]

12 years? For animal cruelty. WOW!! And what do people get when they harm other people? (Not that I condone animal cruelty because I don't) Just curious...

 

[Taxslave2]

12 years? For animal cruelty. WOW!! And what do people get when they harm other people? (Not that I condone animal cruelty because I don't) Just curious...

Depends on it they are white and a citizen, or an illegal alien. Illegals get to skate free because a realsentence might jeprodize their citizenship applications.

 

[spaminator]

Six women, including two sisters, among victims of California avalanche
'Uncovering people who are deceased, that they know and probably cared about, is just horrible'

Author of the articleenette Wilford
Published Feb 20, 2026 • Last updated 22 hours ago • 2 minute read

Kate Vitt, one of the victims of California’s deadliest avalanche on Feb. 17, 2026.
Kate Vitt, one of the victims of California’s deadliest avalanche on Feb. 17, 2026. LinkedIn
Six of the victims in Tuesday’s tragic avalanche in Sierra Nevada, Calif., were part of a tight group of moms who were experienced backcountry skiers and regularly travelled together.


The families of Carrie Atkin, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Kate Vitt, and sisters Caroline Sekar and Liz Clabaugh released a joint statement about their loved ones.


“We are devastated beyond words,” the families said, asking for privacy as they grieve.

“Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honouring the lives of these extraordinary women.”

All six were described as “mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”

Carrie Atkin, one of the victims of California’s deadliest avalanche on Feb. 17, 2026.
Carrie Atkin, one of the victims of California’s deadliest avalanche on Feb. 17, 2026. (LinkedIn) LinkedIn
Two other friends from the group survived and were rescued along with four others, including a guide.

The names of the other victims have not yet been released.

Crews hope to resume efforts Friday to recover the bodies of the eight people killed and one still unaccounted for after days of dangerous weather that has hampered safe access to the area near Lake Tahoe.


Survivors tried to ‘unbury’ their friends
Nevada County Undersheriff Sam Brown told CBS News on Thursday that when the avalanche hit, the skiers “went into, I think, frantic mode of trying to find their friends and partners. And they were ultimately able to unbury three individuals who did not survive.”

Brown noted that the 15 skiers were returning from a three-day guided backcountry trip when they were overcome by eight feet of snow and 145 km/h winds.

“Uncovering people who are deceased, that they know and probably cared about, is just horrible,” Brown added.

This image provided by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office shows members of a rescue team in Soda Springs, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
This image provided by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office shows members of a rescue team in Soda Springs, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Photo by Nevada County Sheriff's Office /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fully prepared and equipped
The group of women, most of whom lived near California, were reportedly well-trained, fully prepared skiers, and equipped with avalanche safety gear.


“They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains,” the families’ detailed in their statement.

“They lived in the Bay Area, Idaho, and the Truckee-Tahoe region.”

McAlister Clabaugh, the brother of Sekar and Clabaugh, told the New York Times that Sekar, 45, was a mother of two who lived in San Francisco.

Caroline Sekar, one of the victims of California’s deadliest avalanche on Feb. 17, 2026.
Caroline Sekar, one of the victims of California’s deadliest avalanche on Feb. 17, 2026. (Facebook) Facebook
Clabaugh, 52, worked as a graduate nurse residency program coordinator at St. Luke’s Health System in Boise, Idaho, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Vitt also lived in San Francisco and had previously worked at SiriusXM and Pandora, according to her LinkedIn page. The Kentfield School District told families in an email on Wednesday that her sons “are safe and are with their father, Geoff, as they navigate this profound loss,” the Times reported.

Atkin lived in Lake Tahoe with her husband and two children and was a former corporate executive and Division I track and field athlete, according to her leadership coaching website.

Authorities are trying to determine why the group continued on its trip when an avalanche watch was issued for the region on Sunday, two days before the avalanche happened.

The Feb. 17 avalanche near Castle Peak, north of the Boreal Mountain Ski Resort, is now the deadliest in California’s history.

It is also the second deadly slide there this year, after one person on a snowmobile was buried in last month.

http://nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/tahoe-avalanche-victims-sisters.html

California avalanche survivors tried to unbury their friends, official says

The avalanche, the deadliest in California history and fourth deadliest in U.S. history, killed at least eight people and left a ninth missing.

cbsnews.com

Six women, including two sisters, among victims of California avalanche

At least six of the victims have been identified in Tuesday’s tragic avalanche in Sierra Nevada, Calif., near Lake Tahoe. Read on.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Crews recover bodies of 9 backcountry skiers days after California avalanche
Recovery efforts had been put on hold for several days because of heavy snow and threat of more avalanches

Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Godofredo Vasquez And Safiyah Riddle
Published Feb 21, 2026 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 4 minute read

A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter takes off from the Truckee Tahoe Airport as recovery efforts for a group of missing skiers continue, in Truckee, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter takes off from the Truckee Tahoe Airport as recovery efforts for a group of missing skiers continue, in Truckee, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Photo by Godofredo A. Vásquez /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Crews recovered the bodies of nine backcountry skiers who were killed by an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada, authorities said Saturday, concluding a harrowing operation that was hindered by intense snowfall.


A search team reached the bodies of eight victims and found one other who had been missing and presumed dead since Tuesday’s avalanche on Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe. The ninth person who was missing was found “relatively close” to the other victims, according to Nevada County Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Hack, but was impossible to see due to whiteout conditions at that time.


At a news conference, Sheriff Shannon Moon praised the collective efforts of the numerous agencies that helped recover the bodies — from the California Highway Patrol to the National Guard to the Pacific Gas & Electric utility company — and 42 volunteers who helped on the last day of the operation.

“We are fortunate in this mountain community that we are very tight-knit, and our community shows up in times of tragedy,” Moon said.


Victims named
The sheriff named for the first time the three guides from Blackbird Mountain Company who died: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, Nicole Choo, 42, and Michael Henry, 30.

According to biographies on the company’s website, Alissandratos was originally from Tampa, Florida, and moved to Tahoe roughly a decade ago. He enjoyed a wide array of adventure activities, from backcountry exploration to rock climbing.

Henry moved to Colorado in 2016 and then to Truckee three years later. He was described as “laid back” and devoted to sharing his knowledge and love of the mountains with others.

There was no bio for Choo on the website.


“This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced,” Blackbird Mountain founder Zeb Blais said Wednesday in a statement.

“We are doing what we can to support the families who lost so much,” he said, “and the members of our team who lost treasured friends and colleagues.”

The six other fatal victims were women who were part of a close-knit group of friends who were experienced backcountry skiers and knew how to navigate the Sierra Nevada wilderness, their families said this week.

They were identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt, all in their 40s. They lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Idaho and the Lake Tahoe area.

“We are devastated beyond words,” the families said in a statement. “Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors.”


The families asked for privacy while they grieve and added that they “have many unanswered questions.”

Two of the friends got out alive and were rescued along with four others, including one guide, after Tuesday’s avalanche. Their names have not been released.

Stuck on the mountain for hours
The avalanche struck on the last day of the 15 skiers’ three-day tour, when the group decided to end the trip early to avoid the impending snowstorm. Officials have said the path they took is a “normally traveled route” but declined to specify what that meant.

At around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the six survivors called for help, describing a sudden and terrifying slide that was approximately the length of a football field. In the aftermath they discovered the bodies of three fellow skiers, according to Hack.


Rescuer were not able to reach them until roughly six hours after the initial call for help, Hack said, and took two separate paths to arrive. They found five other bodies, leaving only one person unaccounted for.

But it was immediately clear to rescuers that it was too dangerous to extract the bodies at that time due to the heavy snowfall and threat of more avalanches. Those conditions persisted on Wednesday and Thursday.

A breakthrough on Friday
Authorities used two California Highway Patrol helicopters, with the help of Pacific Gas & Electric Company, to break up the snow and intentionally release unstable snowpack to reduce the avalanche risk.

Crews were then able to recover five victims that evening before it got too dark to access the last three.


Rescuers used helicopters and ropes to hoist the last four bodies from the mountain the following morning, fighting through severe winds that forced them to make multiple trips. The bodies were then taken to snowcats — trucks that are outfitted to drive on snow — for further transport.

“We cannot say enough how tremendously sorry we are for the families that have been affected by this avalanche,” Moon said.

Initial reports indicated that at least two of the surviving skiers were not swept away by the avalanche, Hack said. The others were standing separately and relatively close together and were hit.

Hack declined to offer information about what might have set off the avalanche.

Authorities close the area
The terrain will be off-limits to visitors until mid-March, said Chris Feutrier, forest supervisor for the Tahoe National Forest. Officials intended to restore public access once the investigation is complete.

“This is the public’s land, and they love to recreate on it,” Feutrier said. “The Forest Service doesn’t close public land for every hazard or every obstacle. We trust the American people to use their best judgment when recreating.”

Crews recover bodies of 9 backcountry skiers days after California avalanche

Crews recovered the bodies of nine backcountry skiers who were killed by an avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada, authorities said.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Savannah Guthrie acknowledges mom Nancy 'may already be gone' as family offers $1M reward
Investigators believe Nancy, 84, was abducted in the early morning hours of Feb. 1, after failing to show up at a friend’s home

Author of the articleenette Wilford
Published Feb 24, 2026 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 2 minute read

An image of Savannah Guthrie and her mother Nancy posted to the Today show host's Instagram.
An image of Savannah Guthrie and her mother Nancy posted to the Today show host's Instagram.
Nancy Guthrie’s family, including Today co-anchor daughter Savannah Guthrie, are offering an additional reward of up to $1 million for any information leading to the whereabouts of their mother.


Savannah shared a new video on Instagram on Tuesday, expressing hope that her mother will be found — but also acknowledged that she “may be lost.”


Investigators believe Nancy, 84, was abducted in the early morning hours of Feb. 1, after failing to show up at a friend’s home in Tucson, Arizona, to watch a livestreamed church service.


A visibly emotional Savannah urged people to continue to keep her mother in their thoughts.

“Please keep praying without ceasing,” she said. “We still believe. We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come home, hope against hope, as my sister says. We are blowing on the embers of hope.”

She added: “We also know that she may be lost. She may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves.”



The Guthrie family also plans to donate $500,000 to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.


“We are hoping that the attention that has been given to our mom and our family will extend to all the families like ours who are in need and need prayers and need support,” Savannah noted.

“We know there are millions of families that have suffered with this kind of uncertainty.”

The FBI is also offering a $100,000 reward, and in a post on X, urged anyone with “firsthand knowledge” of Guthrie’s whereabouts should contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).



Authorities have not identified a suspect in the case, despite the FBI releasing doorbell camera images and videos of an armed and masked man outside Nancy’s house on the morning she disappeared.

Savannah and her siblings Annie and Camron have posted several Instagram videos since their mother went missing.

In some of the videos, the family has made direct appeals to their mother’s possible captor.

“Someone out there knows something that can bring her home,” Savannah pleaded in the video. “Somebody knows, and we are begging you to please come forward now.”

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2026296993211994352

Savannah Guthrie on Instagram: "Someone knows how to find our mom and bring her home. Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) — you can remain anonymous — or find a way to reach out to me. NOTE: Family reward of up to $1 million will be paid only fo

646K likes, 51K comments - savannahguthrie on February 24, 2026: "Someone knows how to find our mom and bring her home. Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) — you can remain anonymous — or find a way to reach out to me. NOTE: Family reward of up to $1 million will be paid only for recovery...

instagram.com

Savannah Guthrie acknowledges mom Nancy 'may already be gone' as family offers $1M reward

Savannah Guthrie and family are offering up to $1 million for any information leading to the whereabouts of their mother. Read on.

torontosun.com

 

[harrylee]

Martin Short's daughter

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/martin-short-daughter-dead-9.7104366

 

[spaminator]

Kylo, one of 'friendliest police dogs in the service,' mourned by Peel police
Belgian shepherd had served on force as general service dog alongside handler Const. Mario Pittarelli since January 2019

Author of the article:Jordan Ercit
Published Mar 23, 2026 • 1 minute read

Kylo, a seven-year-old Belgian shepherd and police service dog.
Peel Regional Police active service dog Kylo, a seven-year-old Belgian shepherd, died of cancer over the weekend. Photo by Peel Regional Police
Another good boy gone too soon.


Peel Regional Police are mourning one of their own after active service dog Kylo, a seven-year-old Belgian shepherd, died of cancer over the weekend.


Kylo was bred in the Netherlands and served on the force as a general service dog, while also being trained in narcotics detection, alongside his handler Const. Mario Pittarelli from January 2019 until his death on Friday.

Kylo, the police service dog, with a handler.
Peel Regional Police active service dog Kylo, a seven-year-old Belgian shepherd, died of cancer over the weekend.
‘Significant loss to the service’
They said the sudden passing of Kylo, who joined the canine unit for training in 2018, is a “significant loss to the service, his handler and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

“His dedication, loyalty and contributions to public safety will not be forgotten,” police said.

Police said Kylo supported Pittarelli on “thousands of calls,” assisted in “numerous investigations” and was responsible for more than 100 arrests, including “extensive work at Toronto Pearson International Airport in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”


He also played a “significant role” in auto theft and organized crime investigations in the region.


Kylo’s ‘enthusiasm was constant’
After a driver allegedly tried to drive toward officers during an October 2020 investigation in Mississauga, Kylo tracked a suspect without incident after he ditched the vehicle and fled. No one was injured as a result.

“Kylo was also affectionately known as one of the friendliest police dogs in the service,” Peel police said in a tribute on their website. “He brought unmatched energy to his work. Whether eagerly searching for narcotics or chewing on his favourite ball, his enthusiasm was constant.

“Kylo’s strong drive, paired with his approachable temperament, made him not only an exceptional working dog, but also a beloved member of the policing community and the Peel Regional Police family.”

http://mississauga.com/news/peel-police-dog-helps-find-mississauga-suspect-wanted-for-evading-officers/article_9d53e33f-e1bd-5c66-9ec2-84abc1d1fb69.html

In Memoriam: Passing of Active Police Service Dog Kylo | Peel Regional Police

peelpolice.ca

Kylo, one of 'friendliest police dogs in the service,' mourned by Peel police

Peel Regional Police are mourning one of their own after active service dog Kylo, a seven-year-old Belgian shepherd, died of cancer. More

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Was Nancy Guthrie’s body dumped because kidnappers 'underestimated' her?
Immediately after she vanished, authorities were notified that Nancy suffers from high blood pressure and cardiac issues and has a pacemaker

Author of the articleenette Wilford
Published Apr 09, 2026 • Last updated 19 hours ago • 3 minute read

An image of Savannah Guthrie and her mother Nancy posted to the Today show host's Instagram.
An image of Savannah Guthrie's mother Nancy posted to the Today show host's Instagram.
It’s been more than two months since Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from her Tucson, Ariz., home, and one cold case expert believes the 84-year-old woman was more than they bargained for and became a liability.


The kidnappers likely “underestimated” just how ailing and fragile the older woman was, Brian Martin, an Indiana detective who specializes in cold cases, told NewsNation’s Brian Entin.


The detective believes that her captors were forced to scrap their ransom plan and get rid of her body when things went “sideways” with the Today host’s mom.

“What really bothers me is if they underestimated Ms. Guthrie’s health and thought, ‘Well, we’ll take her, this will be easy. We’ll hold on to her at an unknown location for a day or two. We’ll get some money out of this and we’ll leave her in a Walmart parking lot,’” Martin said.

“And what they had to do is … it sounds horrible…. They had to dispose of Ms. Guthrie because she was no longer of value to them in that monetary gain that they’re hoping to get.”

This image provided by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department shows a missing person alert for Nancy Guthrie. (Pima County Sheriff’s Department via AP)
This image provided by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department shows a missing person alert for Nancy Guthrie. Photo by Pima County Sheriff’s Department /via AP
Nancy’s health issues
Immediately after she vanished, authorities were notified that Nancy suffers from high blood pressure and cardiac issues and has a pacemaker.


Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos announced on Feb. 1, the day after she was reported missing, that Guthrie “is in need of medication, medication that if she doesn’t have it in 24 hours, it could be fatal.”

Martin said: “It just scares me to think that somebody maybe took Ms. Guthrie, and she had some sort of medical event when it was happening, because obviously it’d be an incredibly stressful situation and very taxing on somebody.”

Nanos also noted in his initial press conference that Nancy’s mobility was severely limited.

Savannah detailed just how bad in her Today interview with Hota Kotb, and she and her siblings immediately knew that their mom didn’t just wander off.

“My mom, she was in tremendous pain,” Savannah said. “Her back was very bad. On a good day, she could walk down to the mailbox and get the mail, but most days not.”

L-R: Annie, Savannah and Camron Guthrie in video pleading for their mother Nancy's return following disappearance.
L-R: Annie, Savannah and Camron Guthrie in video pleading for their mother Nancy’s return following disappearance. X
Was she considered a target?
Last month, Nanos addressed whether he believes the attack on Nancy may have been targeted.

“We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted, but we can’t — we’re not 100% sure of that,” he said at the time.


However, Savannah told Kotb that her brother, Camron, immediately suspected their mother had been “kidnapped for ransom.”



Savannah broke down as she questioned whether her fame had anything to do with her mother’s abduction.

“I don’t know that it’s because she’s my mom and somebody thought, ‘Oh that girl, that lady has money, we could make a quick buck.’

“Too much to bear to think that I brought this to her bedside, that it’s because of me,” Savannah said while sobbing. “I just have to say, I’m so sorry, mommy. I’m so sorry.”

The FBI released photos and video footage of a masked and armed suspect at Nancy’s home, and the Guthrie family and the FBI raised the reward, but despite an increase in tips from the public, no suspects have been officially identified.

Was Nancy Guthrie’s body dumped because kidnappers 'underestimated' her?

A cold case expert believes that 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was more than they bargained for and became a liability. Read on.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Former FedEx driver faces death for killing 7-year-old girl
A jury will decide whether or not Tanner Horner will be put to death for the killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand.

Author of the article:Brian Towie
Published Apr 07, 2026 • Last updated 2 days ago • 3 minute read

A memorial for murder victim Athena Strand in Paradise, Texas.
A memorial for murder victim Athena Strand in Paradise, Texas. Photo by Shafkat Anowar /The Associated Press
WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS
A former FedEx delivery driver pleaded guilty Tuesday in Texas to killing a 7-year-old girl after delivering a package to her house, where he told authorities he hit her with his van and then strangled her in a panic.


Jurors will now decide the fate of Tanner Horner, who faces the death penalty or life in prison for the 2022 murder of Athena Strand, whose body was found after she was reported missing in the small town of Paradise, Texas, near Fort Worth.

The prosecution said the only thing that jurors should believe of Horner is that he killed Athena.

“The only truthful thing that Tanner Horner told law enforcement was that he killed her,” Wise County District Attorney James Stainton said during opening statements. “The pattern and web of lies that he put together, it’s going to be hard for you all to keep up with. It is lie upon lie upon lie upon lie.”

The jury was shown an image of Athena inside the delivery truck, still alive and sitting behind her knees in the driver’s seat, matching the testimony of her stepmother, Ashley Smith. The stepmother, now divorced from Athena’s father, told jurors Horner was there at the time to drop off a box of Barbies as a Christmas present, adding Athena loved the country, where she would run “wild and free.”


“I adored Athena. She was so much fun. She was a free spirit,” testified Athena’s first grade teacher Lindsey Thompson.

‘Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you’
Horner told authorities, according to an arrest warrant, that he strangled Strand after accidentally hitting her with his van while backing up. He said that she wasn’t seriously hurt, but he panicked and put her in the van.

Horner said he didn’t want to let her father know what happened, so he tried to break her neck. When that failed, he choked her to death in the back of the van. The warrant added Horner took authorities to the body.

Stanton said Horner’s story was an “absolute lie.”

“The first thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up and puts her in that truck, he leans down and he says: ‘Don’t scream or I’ll hurt you.’ He says that twice,” Stainton said.

Stainton warned jurors that the case will be graphic, and that they will watch video of what happened and hear audio of it once the cameras were covered up.


“You are going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child,” Stainton said. “And when I say it’s horrible, I mean it.”

The DA said Horner’s DNA was found under the girl’s fingernails because she fought him, and “in places where you shouldn’t find DNA on a 7-year-old girl.”

“He brought violence, fear and death. That’s what he brought with him,” Stainton said.

Defence asks for life
Horner’s lawyer, Steven Goble, says the evidence against his client is “overwhelming,” and “terrible,” but is asking for life in prison all the same, arguing mental health issues. He says Horner’s mother drank while pregnant, that he has autism, and has suffered from mental illness and was exposed to a “massive amount of lead.”

“When someone’s brain is what’s injured, you don’t see it,” Goble told the jury, whose defence team also got the trial moved from Wise County to Fort Worth, saying Horner would not have received a fair trial.

What’s next?
Jurors will hear from another witness before watching and hearing hours of video and audio evidence before coming to their decision.

Athena Strand photo shows deadly ride with FedEx driver who admitted killing girl during Christmas delivery

FedEx driver Tanner Horner admitted to the capital murder of Athena Strand, 7, after allegedly abducting her during a delivery at her father's home.

foxnews.com

Death Row Information

Tanner Horner pleads guilty in killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand, trial moves sentencing

Horner was indicted on Feb. 16, 2023, for aggravated kidnapping and capital murder of a person under the age of 10.

cbsnews.com

Former FedEx driver faces death for killing 7-year-old girl

Texas prosecutors want the death penalty for Tanner Horner, who pleaded guilty to murdering 7-year-old Athena Strand. A jury must decide.

torontosun.com

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Another damn Muzzie child murderer! String 'im up Texas-style! And then deport everybody who looks like him, or prays to the same fairytale!

 

[spaminator]

MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ a woke joke but murders of indigenous women no laughing matter
Chuckle at MP Leah Gazan’s expense if you like, but her 16-letter acronym helped shine light on a problem that is no laughing matter


Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Apr 09, 2026 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 3 minute read

Leah Gazan
Winnipeg Centre NDP MP Leah Gazan speaks during a press conference at the West Block of the Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Photo by Hyungcheol Park /Postmedia Network
Who would have ever thought that the scourge of murdered or missing indigenous women and girls would be the catalyst to give a boost to the Alberta independence organizers?


But with one word posted to X, the world’s richest human gave the province of Alberta’s separatist movement a giant shot in the arm


And with a combination of 16 letters, numbers and characters all strung together, a three-times elected member of parliament from Manitoba found herself the butt of jokes both south of the border and north of it.

It was actually Winnipeg’s left-leaning NDP MP Leah Gazan’s caught on camera alphabet and number acronym MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ that not only went viral but caught the attention of Elon Musk who couldn’t resist commenting on his own X platform to a tweet by Samantha Smith that reads: “MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+, the Canadian government just dropped this absolute monstrosity (and no, it isn’t satire).”



In response, Musk replied to his more than 237 million followers on X: “Canada in cooked.”

From there David Parker posted to X, “Alberta Independence is the only way we save what’s left of it.”

Musk supporting Alberta separation?
In response to that, Musk, who has Saskatchewan roots, posted “Yeah.”

Rise Of Alberta jumped on that and posted, “BREAKING: Elon Musk just backed Alberta independence.”

While Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said he would “fight like hell” against this, American podcasters and social media pundits had a ball.



“For those who don’t speak Woke Retard, I looked it up and apparently MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ means ‘Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual,'” wrote popular conservative blogger Matt Walsh.

“So apparently, they’d added murdered people into the LGBT community. Murdered is now a queer identity. This is the kind of innovation we get from Canada,” he added.

“This is real,” posted Libs of Tik Tok.

Senator Ted Cruz wrote “the mental institutions were closed too quickly.”



Going after woke stuff easy click bait
It’s always good for clicks to go after woke socialists. But while they belittle this woman and take her out of context through selective editing, all those doing this pile-on have had their own questionable moments.

And America is not without its own issues – being embroiled in a nasty war over Iran is far more serious a matter than what a Canadian politician said at a news conference.

While the American podcast class all had a laugh at the expense of an elected Canadian woman, who identifies as indigenous, what most of them did was post only an edited seven-second clip out of what was a two-minute video. The context comes across differently when you watch the full video.

What Gazan was talking about was about an allegation the Prime Minister Mark Carney Liberal government has cut billions out of measures to protect minority groups covered in her 16-character super word, starting with murdered and missing indigenous women.


While she has not yet returned a request for comment, on her social media she did post the full video with a statement.

“Today, I joined Indigenous women’s organizations condemning the Liberal government’s appalling $7 billion cuts to Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations, two ministries that are already grossly underfunded.” Gazan said “And it’s especially disturbing that at the same time they’re investing billions into the military industrial complex, (they’re) ignoring their legal obligations to end the ongoing genocide against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.”



Slain indigenous women no laughing matter
Do a little more digging into this and it’s not hard to find that just last year police found the bodies of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran – two of the four female victims murdered by a serial killer – in a garbage dump at the Prairie Green Landfill in MP Gazan’s Winnipeg region riding.

Even though there are many who seem to think it’s funny, in Alberta there are more than 200 indigenous women who have been murdered or remain missing. And in the United States, where all the chuckling is coming from, there are more than 5,000 indigenous women either murdered or missing.

Chuckle at Gazan’s expense if you like, but in the end, her 16-letter acronym helped shine some light on a deadly problem that is no laughing matter.

jwarmington@postmedia.com

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2041961680461078721

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2042272025729798513

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2042257272953512075

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2042071143532966387

WARMINGTON: MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ a woke joke but murders of indigenous women no laughing matter

With a combination of 16 letters, numbers and characters, a member of parliament from Manitoba found herself the butt of jokes. Read more.

torontosun.com

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Going after woke stuff easy click bait

Especially when your audience is the left-hand side of the IQ curve.

 

[Dixie Cup]

MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ a woke joke but murders of indigenous women no laughing matter
Chuckle at MP Leah Gazan’s expense if you like, but her 16-letter acronym helped shine light on a problem that is no laughing matter


Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Apr 09, 2026 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 3 minute read

Leah Gazan
Winnipeg Centre NDP MP Leah Gazan speaks during a press conference at the West Block of the Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Photo by Hyungcheol Park /Postmedia Network
Who would have ever thought that the scourge of murdered or missing indigenous women and girls would be the catalyst to give a boost to the Alberta independence organizers?


But with one word posted to X, the world’s richest human gave the province of Alberta’s separatist movement a giant shot in the arm


And with a combination of 16 letters, numbers and characters all strung together, a three-times elected member of parliament from Manitoba found herself the butt of jokes both south of the border and north of it.

It was actually Winnipeg’s left-leaning NDP MP Leah Gazan’s caught on camera alphabet and number acronym MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ that not only went viral but caught the attention of Elon Musk who couldn’t resist commenting on his own X platform to a tweet by Samantha Smith that reads: “MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+, the Canadian government just dropped this absolute monstrosity (and no, it isn’t satire).”



In response, Musk replied to his more than 237 million followers on X: “Canada in cooked.”

From there David Parker posted to X, “Alberta Independence is the only way we save what’s left of it.”

Musk supporting Alberta separation?
In response to that, Musk, who has Saskatchewan roots, posted “Yeah.”

Rise Of Alberta jumped on that and posted, “BREAKING: Elon Musk just backed Alberta independence.”

While Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said he would “fight like hell” against this, American podcasters and social media pundits had a ball.



“For those who don’t speak Woke Retard, I looked it up and apparently MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ means ‘Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual,'” wrote popular conservative blogger Matt Walsh.

“So apparently, they’d added murdered people into the LGBT community. Murdered is now a queer identity. This is the kind of innovation we get from Canada,” he added.

“This is real,” posted Libs of Tik Tok.

Senator Ted Cruz wrote “the mental institutions were closed too quickly.”



Going after woke stuff easy click bait
It’s always good for clicks to go after woke socialists. But while they belittle this woman and take her out of context through selective editing, all those doing this pile-on have had their own questionable moments.

And America is not without its own issues – being embroiled in a nasty war over Iran is far more serious a matter than what a Canadian politician said at a news conference.

While the American podcast class all had a laugh at the expense of an elected Canadian woman, who identifies as indigenous, what most of them did was post only an edited seven-second clip out of what was a two-minute video. The context comes across differently when you watch the full video.

What Gazan was talking about was about an allegation the Prime Minister Mark Carney Liberal government has cut billions out of measures to protect minority groups covered in her 16-character super word, starting with murdered and missing indigenous women.


While she has not yet returned a request for comment, on her social media she did post the full video with a statement.

“Today, I joined Indigenous women’s organizations condemning the Liberal government’s appalling $7 billion cuts to Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations, two ministries that are already grossly underfunded.” Gazan said “And it’s especially disturbing that at the same time they’re investing billions into the military industrial complex, (they’re) ignoring their legal obligations to end the ongoing genocide against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.”



Slain indigenous women no laughing matter
Do a little more digging into this and it’s not hard to find that just last year police found the bodies of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran – two of the four female victims murdered by a serial killer – in a garbage dump at the Prairie Green Landfill in MP Gazan’s Winnipeg region riding.

Even though there are many who seem to think it’s funny, in Alberta there are more than 200 indigenous women who have been murdered or remain missing. And in the United States, where all the chuckling is coming from, there are more than 5,000 indigenous women either murdered or missing.

Chuckle at Gazan’s expense if you like, but in the end, her 16-letter acronym helped shine some light on a deadly problem that is no laughing matter.

jwarmington@postmedia.com

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2041961680461078721

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2042272025729798513

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2042257272953512075

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2042071143532966387

WARMINGTON: MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ a woke joke but murders of indigenous women no laughing matter

With a combination of 16 letters, numbers and characters, a member of parliament from Manitoba found herself the butt of jokes. Read more.

torontosun.com

Senator Ted Cruz wrote “the mental institutions were closed too quickly.” No kidding!!