Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota, ended up dead months after traveling to New York in September 2024 to meet an “online girlfriend.”
Months later, on February 13th, 2025 human remains believed to be Nordquist’s were found in a field in Yates County, about 50 miles southeast of Rochester.
New York State Police launched a missing persons investigation on February 9th after a welfare check request from Nordquist’s family. Officials soon uncovered evidence that he “was subjected to ongoing physical abuse” between December 2024 and February 2025.
“Sam was subjected to repeated acts of violence and torture in a manner that ultimately led to his death,” Capt. Kelly Swift said, calling the case “one of the most horrific crimes” of her career. His body was later moved “in an attempt to conceal the crime,” she added.
Minnesota man ‘tortured’ in ‘depraved’ killing by five attackers in upstate New York motel: Police https://t.co/I6rUOXBndX pic.twitter.com/AlN2ceN1G3
— New York Post (@nypost) February 15, 2025
Five people—Precious Arzuaga, 38; Jennifer A. Quijano, 30; Kyle Sage, 33; Patrick A. Goodwin, 30; and Emily Motyka, 19—have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder with depraved indifference. They are being held without bail.
“The facts and the circumstances of this crime are beyond depraved,” Ontario County District Attorney Jame Ritts said. “No human being should have to endure what Sam endured.”
Authorities are still investigating the suspects’ relationships with Nordquist and are considering hate crime charges.
Rochester City Council members expressed condolences, stating, “Our Trans and LGBTQIA+ residents are, and have always been, integral to the fabric of our communities.”
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