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After 19 days of emotional testimony, Tanner Horner has been sentenced to death for killing a young girl he was supposed to be delivering a Christmas present to.

A Terrant County, Texas jury heard closing arguments from both sides Tuesday morning. Defense attorney Susan Anderson

pleaded with jurors to be merciful in deciding Horner's fate. Quote, I want you to vote for life,

sentenced Tanner to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But district attorney

James Stanton made a strong rebuttal, quote, was Tanner merciful? Was Tanner vengeful? Did he show

remorse? No, and I think that's important. The jury took roughly two and a half hours to come to the

decision Horner should face execution.

Horner remained stoic as the verdict was read, only speaking to agree to appointed counsel

for his automatic appeal process. The uncle of victim Athena Strand was the only family member

to address Horner in court yesterday. You did not just take a life you destroyed family.

He took a little girl who trusted the world

and repaid that innocence with violence.

He chose to cause pain that the last generations.

But I want you to know that you are nothing.

You are a footnote in Athena's story.

Her name will forever be, remember.

Her name will forever be celebrated and everyone will forget me.

The rest of Athena's family says they are not yet ready to comment on the outcome of the trial.

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