A Long Island school music teacher has been charged with murder after strangling to death his sister-in-law whom he had lusted after for years.
Joseph Horner pleaded not guilty in court on Monday after police said they found 25-year-old Victoria Castle not breathing in a ground-floor apartment attached to his home on North Oak Street in Massapequa.
The 27-year-old Horner, who lives in the second floor apartment at the house, asked Castle to help move a piano with him when “without warning and unprovoked” he attacked her from behold and placed her in a chokehold until her body went limp.
Prosecutors allege Horner then sexually assaulted her, changed his own clothes and then called 911, waiting for police to arrive.
“The male caller requested police and an ambulance to this location for a deceased female,” said Detective Lieutenant Daniel Steller of the Nassau Police Department.
Horner was sitting on the stoop waiting for police when officers arrived. According to prosecutors, he confessed to police that he had been interested in his sister-in-law since 2017. He acted on his urges Monday morning because his wife was away on a trip, prosecutors said.
The victim’s family was distraught as they left court.
“My understanding is he was happily married for the past three years. He lived in the same house with his sister-in-law, who lived in another apartment,” said defense attorney Gregory Grizopoulos. “What the motivation was and what the allegations are, we will figure it out as we move forward.”
Horner, a music teacher for the Oceanside School District, pleaded not guilty to the charges and signed an order of protection to stay away from his wife. Neighbors who did not really know the couple or Castle were stunned to learn what happened.
“It’s scary, it’s very upsetting. We were frightened all day yesterday and last night cause we live so close to the home,” said neighbor Marguerite Defillipis.
Castle was a Ph.D. student at Stony Brook University, according to police,. Her family was left crushed after her promising life was cut short.
Officials with Stony Brook said in a statement they were “deeply saddened by the loss of Victoria Castle, a valued member of the Stony Brook University community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, classmates, faculty mentors, and all who knew and cared for her. During this difficult time, we are committed to supporting those across our community as they grieve.”
In a statement, the Oceanside School District said Horner had been “placed on administrative leave effective immediately, pending further review. We have no further information at this time.”
0 Comments