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LONG ISLAND (WABC) — <\/span>An elementary school music teacher allegedly strangled his sister-in-law to death in a home where they had separate apartments on Monday morning, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n The Nassau County District Attorney says Joseph Horner lived in an upstairs apartment in the same home as the victim.<\/p>\n He allegedly asked his sister-in-law, Victoria Castle, to help him move a piano in his apartment.<\/p>\n Once there, prosecutors say he attacked the 25-year-old victim from behind and placed her in a chokehold until she was unconscious.<\/p>\n According to prosecutors, he then sexually abused the woman, changed his clothes and called the police.<\/p>\n “The male caller requested police and an ambulance to this location for a deceased female,” Det. Lt. Daniel Steller, deputy commanding officer of the NCPD Homicide Squad, said.<\/p>\n Horner waited at the scene for the police to arrive.<\/p>\n CPR was administered, and the woman was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old’s wife was at a bachelorette party at the time of the attack, police said.<\/p>\n “He’s married, he has been married for 3 years, and his wife was not home at the time of this incident,” Steller said.<\/p>\n Horner is an elementary school music teacher.<\/p>\n Oceanside School District released a statement saying in part, “This staff member has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately, pending further review. We have no further information at this time.”<\/p>\n “He’s an Oceanside teacher, he’s tenured, he’s very well loved by his students and his colleagues; these allegations are not very in line with what his community friends and family believe,” attorney Gregory Grizopoulos said.<\/p>\n Horner pleaded not guilty to murder.<\/p>\n It was very emotional, as Castle’s family cried and hugged one another in the courtroom.<\/p>\n She was a student in the process of getting her PhD at Stony Brook University.<\/p>\n Horner’s family was also present, and neither wanted to comment on the allegations.<\/p>\n Horner was held without bail, and if convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.<\/p>\nSubmit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News<\/h2>\n