The courtroom phase of Tanner Horner’s case may be over, but the legal battle is not finished.

After Horner was sentenced to d*ath on May 5, 2026, his attorneys filed an appeal with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on May 11. An automatic appeal had also been filed earlier, as required in Texas capital cases.

The appeal means the case now moves into a different legal stage, where higher courts will review the proceedings rather than conduct another full trial. Horner’s defense has also sought a new trial, arguing that intense media coverage affected potential witnesses and his ability to receive a fair sentencing proceeding.

For Athena Strand’s family, this means the case is entering a potentially lengthy period of appeals. The death sentence remains in place while the appellate process continues.

The trial may be over, but Tanner Horner’s legal case is far from finished.

👉 Source: CBS News Texas — Tanner Horner files appeal 