North Massapequa Man Charged With Rape And Murder In Connection With Sister-In-Law's Death: DA

MINEOLA, NY — The Oceanside music teacher accused of killing his sister-in-law pleaded not guilty to murder and rape charges Wednesday, the Nassau County DA announced.

North Massapequa resident Joseph Horner was arrested June 30 in connection with the strangling death of his sister-in-law, Stony Brook PhD student Victoria Castle, and charged with second-degree murder, police said.

Subscribe

Wednesday, Horner appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to a count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree rape, the DA's office said. If found guilty, prosecutors say Horner could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

"Joseph Horner allegedly lured his unsuspecting sister-in-law with an innocuous favor, strangled, and brutally raped her in her own bed," District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. "This vicious attack was the act of a deranged individual suffering from an unrequited love and sick lust dating back more than a decade. Joseph Horner saw his chance when his wife was out of town, and he allegedly took it. Now, a bright young woman with a promising future is dead. Our thoughts remain with the Castle family as they continue to endure this indescribable pain and heartbreak and as we pursue justice for Victoria."

According to prosecutors, Horner asked Castle to help him move a keyboard piano from her first-floor apartment up to the second-floor apartment in the same home, where he and his wife lived, at 7:45 a.m. on June 29.

After moving the piano, Horner went back downstairs to get the piano bench, at which point he attacked Castle, placing her in a chokehold until she passed out, police said.

"According to the investigation, the defendant then removed the victim's clothes, placed her on her bed, and raped her," prosecutors said.

Police were called to the multi-family home at about 8:40 a.m. the same morning, prosecutors said.

Upon arrival, prosecutors said Horner was sitting outside on the front stoop while Castle lay unresponsive on her bed. Castle was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and pronounced dead, prosecutors said. An autopsy revealed her death had come from strangulation, prosecutors said.

Horner was arrested June 29.

In the aftermath of Castle's death, Horner was placed on administrative leave from the Oceanside School District while the Stony Brook student's friends and colleagues remembered her as someone who "would bring light" wherever she went.