Joseph Horner, a 27-year-old music teacher from New York, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his sister-in-law, Victoria Castle, a 25-year-old Ph.D. student at Stony Brook University. The incident occurred on June 29, when Nassau County police found Castle unresponsive in a North Massapequa home. According to a felony complaint filed in Nassau District Court, Horner is accused of intentionally causing Castle's death, although specific details of the allegations have not been disclosed.
Prosecutors allege that Horner had been obsessed with Castle for over a decade and lured her to the home under the pretense of needing help to move a piano. They claim he then assaulted and strangled her. After the incident, Horner reportedly called 911 and remained at the scene until police arrived, where he admitted to the killing.
Castle was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Horner was arrested at the scene and is scheduled to appear in Nassau District Court on Thursday. He is currently on administrative leave from his position in the Oceanside School District. The district stated that the allegations do not involve the school or its students. Horner's attorney has urged the public to refrain from rushing to judgment, emphasizing the contrast between the allegations and Horner's reputation as a teacher. If convicted, Horner faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.