A New York doctoral student who authorities say was raped and killed by her brother-in-law once praised him in strikingly warm terms, calling him “one of the most wonderful people in the world” in a Facebook post celebrating his wedding to her sister.
“My sister, my person, my partner in chaos, is now married to one of the most wonderful people in the world,” Victoria Castle wrote alongside a photo showing her accused killer, Joseph Horner, kissing his bride at their wedding venue.
“I love you both forever!” she added in the post, words that have since taken on a chilling resonance after her violent death.
Less than three years after that wedding, Horner, 27, is facing accusations that he murdered Castle, sexually assaulted her and strangled her while his wife was out of town on a bachelorette trip, police said.
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At his arraignment, prosecutors alleged Horner had been “obsessed” with Castle for more than 10 years before the attack, which they say occurred June 29 inside the North Massapequa home they shared.
Horner, who worked as a music teacher in the Oceanside School District, lived with his wife in the upstairs apartment of the multifamily residence, while Castle occupied the ground-floor unit, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said Horner asked Castle, a Stony Brook University PhD student, to help him move a piano before allegedly attacking her from behind, putting her in a chokehold until she became limp, then removing her clothing and raping her.
He later called 911 and remained at the scene until police arrived, allegedly telling detectives that he had carried out the attack, officials said.
He was arrested for homicide at the scene.
