DISTURBING new details have emerged in the killing of a transgender man as prosecutors said a 12-year-old and preteen were forced to participate in the harrowing torture.
The killing in western New York of Sam Nordquist has been described by veteran investigators as “one of the most horrific crimes” after he allegedly endured over a month of “prolonged physical and psychological abuse.”
“Our state no longer has the death penalty but prior to the death penalty being struck down, this would have been a death penalty charge,” Kelly Wolford, the Ontario County assistant district attorney, said in a press conference on Wednesday.
Last September, Nordquist, 24, traveled halfway across the country from his home in Minnesota to Canandaigua, New York, about 30 miles southeast of Rochester, to meet up with Precious Arzuaga, who prosecutors said was in an online relationship with the victim.
However, things took a dark, twisted turn in the weeks that followed as Nordquist was forced to endure physical and sexual abuse, including being assaulted with a table leg and broomstick, court documents state.
Nordquist had bleach poured on him and was beaten with sticks, dog toys, ropes, canes, and belts in the weeks leading up to his death at the Patty’s Lodge motel in Canandaigua.
Arzuaga forced her two children, ages 7 and 12, to participate in Nordquist’s brutal torture, according to court documents.
“It’s heartbreaking. We have a seven-year-old and a 12-year-old who are also victims,” Wolford said.
The identities of the two children were not disclosed in court documents.
“To have two children have to participate in the beating of another human being. It’s deeply disturbing,” the assistant district attorney added.
“They may have been forced to participate, but their lives are forever changed by what they saw and endured in there.
They physically restrained him. They forced him to obey their commands, treating him like a dog.
Kelly Wolford, the Ontario County Assistant District Attorney
“It has – I can speak for myself and everyone involved in this investigation – been one of the most troubling parts of this. It’s heartbreaking.”
Nordquist’s body, which investigators said showed signs of torture, was found on February 13 in a field in neighboring Yates County after his family requested a welfare check.
The family, who were also living in Minnesota, told police they had lost contact with Nordquist after last speaking with him on January 1.
“The last thing Sam said is, ‘I love you, and I’ll call you tomorrow,'” Linda, Nordquist’s mother, told NBC affiliate KARE in February.
“He sounded sad, really sad. And Sam is an outgoing person.”
Prosecutors said that between January 1 to February 2, Nordquist was confined, beaten, sexually assaulted, deprived of food, and “treated like a dog.”
“Sam was confined, he was forced to kneel and stand against a wall,” Wolford said as she read from the indictment.
“He was physically assaulted, he was sexually assaulted, he was prevented from using his phone, he was denied proper nutrition and hydration, he was fed faeces.
“He was forced to drink urine. They physically restrained him. They forced him to obey their commands, treating him like a dog.
Timeline of Sam Nordquist's murder
Sam Nordquist's beaten and tortured remains were found on a road side near a field in Yates County, New York, on February 13.
Timeline:
- September 2024: Sam Nordquist travels from Oakdale Minnesota, to Canandaigua, New York, to advance his online relationship with Precious Arzuaga, 38, prosecutors said.
- Nordquist and Arzuaga were staying in the Patty’s Lodge motel.
- October – December 2024: Sam Nordquist was in communication with his family in Oakdale, his mom Linda Norquist said.
- January 1: The last time Sam Nordquist spoke with his mother.
- That same day Norquist’s “horrific torture” began, Kelly Wolford, the Ontario County Assistant District Attorney, said.
- February 2: Sam Nordquist was killed, his body was wrapped in plastic bags, and dumped on a roadside in a field in Yates County, Wolford said.
- February 9: Nordquist’s family files a welfare check request with New York State Police.
- February 13: Investigators find Nordquist’s body in a field near a farm in Yates County.
- Seven people were arrested in connection with Nordquist’s murder, including Precious Arzuaga, Jennifer Quijano, 30, Kyle Sage, 33, Patrick Goodwin, 30, Emily Motyka, 19, Thomas Eaves, 21, and Kimberly Sochia, 29.
- March 5: Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford files first-degree murder charges against the seven suspects, as well as 10 other crimes.
“They covered his face with towels and shirts and fabric. They used duct tape and they poured bleach on him.”
The Ontario County assistant district attorney said the suspects removed Nordquist’s body from the motel, wrapped it in plastic bags, and dumped it in a field in Yates County.
All seven defendants, Arzuaga, 38, Jennifer Quijano, 30, Kyle Sage, 33, Patrick Goodwin, 30, Emily Motyka, 19, Thomas Eaves, 21, and Kimberly Sochia, 29, were hit with 11 charges, including first-degree murder.
“It’s a rare circumstance where we stand before you and charge this sub-division of murder in the first degree, where it alleges that somebody was tortured to death,” Wolford added.
“It specifically requires that we prove that all seven defendants tortured Sam Nordquist and that they did so because they enjoyed it.”
The seven suspects were also charged with second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping crimes.
Prosecutors have not charged the suspects with hate crimes, but Wolford described how the case has taken a bigger meaning.
“A hate crime would make this charge about Sam’s gender, or about Sam’s race, but it’s so much bigger,” she added.
“To limit us to a hate crime would be an injustice to Sam.
“Sam deserves to have this story told in its entirety. Sam was beaten, assaulted, sexually abused, starved, held captive and we cannot make sense of that.”