- Joseph Horner, a 27-year-old music teacher, was charged with second-degree murder of his sister-in-law, Victoria Castle, in North Massapequa.
- Horner allegedly attacked Castle from behind after inviting her to help move a piano and placed her in a chokehold.
- Victoria Castle, a 25-year-old PhD student at Stony Brook University, died shortly after the incident despite emergency CPR efforts.
NORTH MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK — Months after a college basketball star was killed at a Long Island house party, another Long Island murder case has shocked a family and community. This time, a music teacher is accused of killing his sister-in-law inside a home where they both lived in separate apartments.
Joseph Horner, 27, of North Massapequa, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Victoria Castle.
Attack Inside North Massapequa Home
The incident happened Monday morning, June 29, at a home on North Oak Street in North Massapequa.
Authorities said Horner lived in an upstairs apartment with his wife, while Castle lived in a ground-floor apartment in the same multi-family home.
Prosecutors said Horner asked Castle to come upstairs and help him move a piano.
Once she was inside, prosecutors allege Horner attacked Castle from behind and placed her in a chokehold until she became unconscious.
Prosecutors Allege Sexual Assault
Prosecutors said Horner allegedly sexually assaulted Castle after choking her.
Authorities said he then changed his clothes and called 911.
Police said officers were called to the home around 8:45 a.m. after Horner requested police and an ambulance for a female victim.
When officers arrived, Horner was waiting outside the home.
Inside the ground-floor apartment, police found Castle on the floor. Emergency responders performed CPR before she was taken to a hospital.
Officials said Castle died at the hospital at 9:25 a.m.
Wife Was Away at the Time
Prosecutors said Horner’s wife was not home when the attack happened.
Reports said she was away on a bachelorette trip.
At Horner’s arraignment, prosecutors alleged that he had been interested in Castle for years and acted when his wife was away.
News 12 reported that prosecutors said Horner allegedly admitted to authorities that he choked Castle and had sex with her.
Teacher Placed on Leave
Horner worked as a music teacher in the Oceanside School District.
After his arrest, the district said he was placed on administrative leave effective immediately, pending further review.
The district also said Nassau County officials indicated that the charges had no connection to the school district or its students.
Oceanside officials said the news was deeply disturbing and that the district remains committed to maintaining a safe and trustworthy environment for students, staff, and the community.
Stony Brook Mourns Castle
Castle was a PhD student at Stony Brook University.
In a statement, university officials said they were deeply saddened by her death and described her as a valued member of the Stony Brook community.
The university extended condolences to her family, friends, classmates, faculty mentors, and others who knew and cared for her.
Her family was visibly emotional in court as the case was discussed.
Pleaded Not Guilty
Horner pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
He was ordered held without bail.
His attorney said the allegations were serious and deeply upsetting, but also said they were not in line with how Horner had been viewed by students, colleagues, family, and friends.
Police said Horner acted alone and had no prior arrests or previous interactions with law enforcement.
If convicted, Horner could face 25 years to life in prison.
The case remains active as prosecutors continue moving forward with the murder charge.
To view more cases involving family violence, murder investigations, and shocking criminal charges, check out our video here:
