A Long Island music teacher is accused of raping and murdering his 25-year-old sister-in-law, Victoria Castle, a doctoral student, on June 29. Authorities allege Joseph Horner, 27, had harbored an obsession with Castle for nearly a decade before the attack.
According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Horner, who had been married to Castle's sister for three years, waited until his wife left for a bachelorette trip before luring Castle to his upstairs apartment in their North Massapequa home under the pretense of needing help to move a piano. Castle reportedly went willingly, unaware of Horner's alleged intentions.
Prosecutors claim that once upstairs, Horner ambushed Castle from behind, placed her in a chokehold until she lost consciousness, and then sexually assaulted her. Court documents indicate the attack was not random but the result of Horner's alleged long-standing attraction to Castle, dating back to around 2017.
Investigators allege that after the assault, Horner changed his clothes and called 911 himself, reporting a deceased female. Emergency responders arrived at the scene, administered CPR, and transported Castle to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Horner was taken into custody at the property.
During questioning, Horner reportedly admitted to detectives that he had long-standing erotic feelings for his sister-in-law and acted deliberately while his wife was away. He has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charge. His defense attorneys have stated that the allegations are inconsistent with his character and maintain his innocence.
Castle was pursuing a doctorate in geosciences at Stony Brook University. Colleagues described her as a dedicated and bright scientist. A resurfaced social media post from Castle, made on the day Horner married her sister, expressed praise for him, calling him "one of the most wonderful people in the world," a message that has since taken on a tragic new significance.
Horner worked as an elementary school music teacher in the Oceanside School District, where he has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. The case has sent shockwaves through both the education and academic communities.
Horner is currently being held without bail. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Prosecutors stated that forensic analysis and further interviews are ongoing to establish a complete timeline of events.