No evidence of hate crime in 'torture' killing of transgender man in upstate New York: Investigators
The victim, Sam Nordquist, was reported missing on Feb. 9, police said.
ByBill Hutchinson
February 17, 2025, 4:06 PM ET
New York is fucked, they need to be raided and taken over by US gov
• 8 min read
5 people arrested in death of transgender man Police said five people have been charged with murder after the body of a missing transgender man was discovered dumped in an upstate New York field. New York State Police via AP
Investigators probing what they described as the torturous killing of a 24-year-old transgender man in upstate New York, allegedly at the hands of five people, say they have found no evidence that the homicide was a hate crime.
The remains of the victim, identified as 24-year-old Sam Nordquist of Minnesota, were discovered on Wednesday in a field in Benton, New York, in Yates County, according to Capt. Kelly Swift, a New York State Police investigator.
Swift said investigators suspect that Nordquist was tortured and killed in neighboring Ontario County and moved "in an attempt to conceal a crime."
"Based on evidence and witness statements, we have determined that Sam endured prolonged physical and psychological abuse at the hands of multiple individuals," Swift said Friday during a news conference.
This undated photo provided by the New York State Police shows Sam Nordquist. Nordquist, a 24-year-old missing transgender man, died after enduring prolonged physical and psychological abuse over a month by multiple individuals who later discarded his body in a field, in Canandaigua, N.Y., according to New York State Police.New York State Police via AP
A criminal complaint obtained by Rochester, New York, ABC affiliate WHAM alleged that the suspects sexually assaulted Nordquist with a "table leg and broomstick." The complaint further alleges that the suspects subjected Nordquist to "prolonged beatings by punching, kicking and striking [Nordquist] with numerous objects, including but not limited to sticks, dog toys, rope, bottles, belts, canes and wooden boards."
According to the complaint, the torture allegedly took place in room 22 at Patty's Lodge in Hopewell, New York, in Ontario County between Jan. 1 and Feb. 2.
Swift said investigators executed a search warrant at the hotel on Thursday, specifically searching room 22 for evidence.
"In my 20-year law enforcement career, this is one of the most horrific crimes I have ever investigated," Swift added. "My thoughts are with Sam's family during this time."
Suspects charged with murder
The suspects arrested in the case were identified by Swift as Precious Arzuaga, 38, of Canandaigua, New York; Jennifer Quijano, 30, of Geneva, New York; Kyle Sage, 33, of Rochester, New York; Patrick Goodwin, 30, also of Canandaigua; and Emily Motyka, 19, of Lima, New York.
Ontario County District Attorney James Ritts said all five suspects have all been charged with second-degree murder under the state's depraved indifference statute. He said the suspects have been arraigned and are being held without bail at the Ontario County Jail.
It was unclear if the suspects had hired or were appointed attorneys to represent them.
No indication of a hate crime???
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the state police and Ritts addressed whether investigators are pursuing hate crime charges against the suspects.
"At this time we have no indication that Sam's murder was a hate crime," the joint statement reads. "To help alleviate the understandable concern his murder could be a hate crime, we are disclosing that Sam and his assailants were known to each other, identified as LGBTQ+, and at least one of the defendants lived with Sam in the time period leading up to the instant offense."
Capt. Kelly Swift, a New York State Police investigator, provides information at a news conference on Feb. 14, 2025, on the homicide of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man, allegedly fatally tortured by five individuals now charged with murder.WHAM
Authorities said they released the information after getting "multiple inquiries from across our community, New York State and the entire nation."
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/story?id=118875705
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