Oceanside music school teacher believed to have strangled sister-in-law in North Massapequa homicide case, prosecutor says
Nassau County police said they arrested Joseph Horner, 27, and charged him with second-degree murder.
More Stories
An Oceanside School District music teacher is accused of fatally strangling his sister-in-law in North Massapequa.
On Tuesday, Nassau County police said they arrested Joseph Horner, 27, and charged him with second-degree murder in the death of Victoria Castle.
According to investigators, officers responded to 285 N Oak Street around 8:45 a.m., Monday, after Horner called 911 to request an ambulance for a female victim.
Police said they found Horner outside the home when they arrived.
Officials said the home was multi-family and split into two apartments; Horner and his wife, who was not home at the time and uninvolved, lived upstairs and Horner's wife's sister lived on the ground level.
Inside, police said they found Castle on the floor of that ground-floor apartment. She was taken to the hospital, where she died at 9:25 a.m., according to officials.
Police said Castle was a PhD student at Stony Brook University and Horner knew her since 2016, when he met his wife.
At Horner's arraignment, a Nassau prosecutor said while Horner's wife was away, he saw an opportunity to follow through on a "sexual desire" he'd harbored for his sister-in-law.
Horner allegedly admitted to lusting over his wife's sister since 2017.
He asked for help moving a piano, the prosecutor said, then without warning, attacked her and placed her in a chokehold until her body went limp. He then allegedly placed her in bed and had sex with her. Afterward, he called 911. The prosecutor said he later admitted to authorities that he'd choked her and then had sex with her.
Horner pleaded not guilty to murder in the second degree and is being held without bail.
His attorney said his client is a tenured teacher who is well loved by his students and colleagues.
Nassau County police said Horner acted alone and had no prior interactions with law enforcement or previous arrests.
In a statement, Oceanside Superintendent of Schools Phyllis Harrington told News 12: "According to the Nassau County Police Department, a staff member in the Oceanside School District was recently arrested on charges of homicide. Nassau County Officials indicated that these charges have no connection to the school district or its students. We understand that this news is deeply disturbing. This staff member has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately, pending further review. We have no further information at this time. The Oceanside School District is committed to maintaining a safe, professional, and trustworthy environment for our students, staff, and community. We stand by that commitment at all times."
Nassau County police charged Horner with one count of second-degree murder. He is facing up to 25 years to life if found guilty.
