A time to remember, bid farewell in apparent murders, suicide case

NEW CASTLE – Friends and family members will gather Tuesday to remember two youngsters who died last week, the apparent victims of domestic violence.

Calling hours for Corinne Nicole Horn, 11, and her 5-year-old brother, Thomas Cordell Horn, are set 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Sprowles Family Funeral Home, 2400 S. Memorial Drive.

A funeral for the Horn children is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at New Castle’s First Baptist Church, 709 S. Memorial Drive.

The youngsters’ bodies were found Thursday morning in their family’s home, in the 5500 block of West Old National Road, east of Knightstown. Autopsies on Friday confirmed they were the victims of gunshot wounds.

Also on Thursday, Henry County sheriff’s deputies found the body of the children’s 48-year-old father, Joseph Lindel Horn, dead of what was believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

While authorities have not formally said they believe Joseph Horn — who was in the midst of divorce proceedings — shot his children before taking his own life, they have acknowledged there are no other suspects.

Henry County Prosecutor Joseph Bergacs said Monday it could be some time before the investigation is completed. Evidence from the scene will be sent to an Indiana State Police laboratory for analysis, he said.

The obituary prepared by Sprowles Family Funeral Home said Corrine Horn, in sixth grade at Tri Elementary School, “loved to laugh,” and also loved animals, including her pets, a dog, two cats and a chinchilla.

Her younger brother, in kindergarten at Tri, was described as a “natural born entertainer” who enjoyed “FaceTiming” family and friends, along with outdoor activities.

After Wednesday’s funeral, the siblings will be laid to rest in Mount Summit Cemetery.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.