Five people have been charged by New York State Police with the murder of a missing transgender man, who authorities say died after being tortured for more than a month by multiple people who then disposed of his body in a field.
The victim, Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota, was reported missing on February 9. According to police, he arrived in New York in September and lost contact with loved ones.
Major Kevin Sucher, commander of the state police troop that covers the Finger Lakes region, stated that the facts and circumstances of the case were “beyond depraved” and “by far the worst” homicide investigation the office has ever been involved in.
“No human being should have to go through what Sam did,” he said during a televised news conference. Police did not provide many details about the case, noting that it was still under investigation.
When asked if Nordquist’s torture and death were considered a hate crime, Capt. Kelly Swift of the New York State Police Troop E’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation said they had not ruled it out but that the investigation was ongoing.
Investigators must also determine Nordquist’s relationship with the suspects, as well as the suspects’ interactions with one another.
Following the news, Rochester City Council members Mary Lupien, Stanley Martin, and Kim Smith issued a joint statement saying, “We mourn the loss of Sam Nordquist, a Trans man whose life was taken in a horrific act of violence.”
Our hearts go out to Sam’s family, friends, and loved ones. No family should have to go through such a loss; we offer them our heartfelt condolences and unwavering support.
“Every person is entitled to live with dignity, safety, and the freedom to be themselves without fear. To our transgender and LGBTQIA+ neighbors, we see you, grieve with you, and stand in love and solidarity.
At a time when hostility toward LGBTQIA+ people is on the rise—as federal orders seek to remove the term Trans from public record—we must remain steadfast in our commitment to fiercely defending and protecting our Trans neighbors.
“Our transgender and LGBTQIA+ residents are and have always been an integral part of our communities. We reaffirm our commitment to protecting transgender rights and ensuring everyone’s safety, and we want you to know that you belong—fully, openly, and without fear.
The progress we have made has been hard won, and we will not let it slip away.”We honor Sam’s memory by continuing to create safe, open, and authentic communities for trans and LGBTQIA+ people. We encourage community members to attend Sam’s vigil on Monday, February 17 at 6 p.m. The vigil will be held at Wood Library, 134 N Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424.
Precious Arzuaga, 38, and Patrick Goodwin, 30, both of Canandaigua, New York; Kyle Sage, 33, of Rochester, New York; Jennifer Quijano, 30, of Geneva, New York; and Emily Motyka, 19, of Lima, New York, have all been arrested. All five were charged with second-degree murder after police searched a room at the Patty’s Lodge motel in Canandaigua on Thursday, where Nordquist was last seen.
All five were being held in police custody awaiting arraignment. It was unclear if anyone had retained an attorney.
According to Swift, the investigation has so far revealed a “deeply disturbing pattern of abuse” that led to Nordquist’s death, making it “one of the most horrific crimes” she has ever investigated in her 20-year law enforcement career.
