Prosecutors Allege Years-Long Obsession Preceded F…

Prosecutors Allege Years-Long Obsession Preceded F…

Prosecutors Allege Years-Long Obsession Preceded Fatal Attack On Stony Brook PhD Student

New details presented in court have shed light on the prosecution’s allegations in the death of 25-year-old Victoria Castle, a doctoral student at Stony Brook University, whose killing has shocked communities across Long Island.

According to prosecutors, Castle believed she was responding to a routine request from a family member when she entered her brother-in-law’s apartment to help move a piano. Authorities allege the request was used to isolate her before the fatal attack. The defendant, 27-year-old Joseph Horner, has been charged with second-degree murder and rape. He has pleaded not guilty, and all allegations remain subject to proof in court.

The incident occurred at a multi-family home on North Oak Street in North Massapequa, where Horner lived with his wife in an upstairs apartment while Castle occupied a separate unit on the ground floor.

Prosecutors allege Horner’s wife was away attending a bachelorette celebration when the events unfolded. According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Horner asked Castle to assist him with moving a piano, a request that prosecutors say brought her into the apartment shortly before the alleged attack.

During Horner’s arraignment, prosecutors alleged that once Castle entered the apartment, she was attacked from behind and placed in a chokehold before being sexually assaulted.

Authorities say Castle was later found critically injured after Horner contacted emergency services. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police arrested Horner at the scene.

Among the most significant allegations presented by prosecutors is the claim that Horner had been attracted to Castle for several years.

According to the prosecution, the alleged fixation dated back to around 2017, after Horner first met Castle through his relationship with the woman who would later become his wife. Prosecutors contend that the alleged long-standing interest provides important context for their theory of the case.

Those assertions, however, are allegations made by the prosecution and have not been established as fact by the court.

Investigators continue examining electronic evidence, forensic findings, witness testimony, and statements collected during the investigation. Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed every piece of evidence supporting their allegations, citing the ongoing judicial proceedings.

Legal experts note that information presented during an arraignment is intended to establish probable cause for criminal charges rather than determine guilt.

The prosecution must still prove every element of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, while the defense will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence and present its own case during future court proceedings.

Castle was pursuing a PhD at Stony Brook University at the time of her death.

Friends, classmates, and faculty members have remembered her as a dedicated scholar with a promising future. Tributes have continued to appear across the university community, where many have expressed sorrow over the loss of a young researcher whose academic career was just beginning.

Following Horner’s arrest, the Oceanside School District confirmed that he had been placed on administrative leave from his position as a music teacher.

School officials expressed sympathy for Castle’s family and stated that they would continue monitoring the legal proceedings while cooperating with authorities as appropriate.

The case has drawn widespread attention because of the close family relationship between the victim and the accused, as well as the prosecution’s allegations regarding the planning and circumstances surrounding the incident.

Investigators continue reviewing evidence as the case moves through the New York court system. Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation and allow the judicial process to proceed.

For Castle’s family, the criminal case marks the beginning of a lengthy legal process as they mourn the loss of a daughter, sister, and doctoral student whose life ended under tragic circumstances. The court will ultimately determine whether the prosecution has proven the charges against Horner based on the evidence presented at trial.