Thursday, October 1, 2026
An Oceanside School District music teacher has been charged with murder in connection with the strangulation death and sexual assault of a woman found inside a North Massapequa apartment, Nassau County police said.
Joseph Horner, 27, of North Massapequa, was charged with second-degree murder following the death of his 25-year-old sister-in-law, Victoria Castle, whose body was discovered Monday morning in a ground-floor apartment attached to a home on North Oak Street, according to Nassau police Det. Lt. Daniel Steller.
Police said Horner lived in an upstairs apartment attached to the same residence.
The 27-year-old's wife was at a bachelorette party at the time of the attack, police said. He reportedly asked Castle to help him move a piano into his apartment.
Authorities said Horner called 911 at 8:45 a.m. Monday to report that a woman was dead. Responding officers attempted lifesaving measures at the scene before transporting the woman to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9:25 a.m.
Investigators determined the woman died from strangulation, police said.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Oceanside School District officials confirmed they had been notified by police that one of their staff members had been arrested and charged in connection with a homicide.
“We understand that this news is deeply disturbing,” Superintendent Phyllis Harrington said. “This staff member has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately, pending further review.”
Horner was escorted in handcuffs from Nassau Police Headquarters in Mineola for arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead.
If convicted of second-degree murder, Horner could face a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
