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Bottom insets, from left: Kyle Sage, Patrick Goodwin, Emily Motyka, Precious Arzuaga and Jennifer Quijano (New York State Police). Top right inset: Sam Nordquist (New York State Police). Background: The last location Nordquist was staying at in New York (WHAM).
Five people are accused of months of torture that killed a missing transgender man whose body was found in a field in New York.
The five defendants, two men and three women from New York, have been charged with second-degree murder following the death of Sam Nordquist, 24. The suspects were identified as Precious N. Arzuaga, 38; Kyle R. Sage, 33; Jennifer A. Quijano, 30; Patrick A. Goodwin, 30; and Emily Jean Motyka, 19.
In a press conference announcing the murder, authorities described the case as disturbing without providing details and without revealing how the suspects knew the victim. They also said that hate crime charges haven’t been ruled out in the ongoing investigation.
Officials said Nordquist traveled from Minnesota to New York in September and had last stayed at Patty’s Lodge motel in Canandaigua. Authorities said that from December through February, Nordquist “endured prolonged physical and psychological abuse at the hands of multiple individuals.”
“No human being should have to endure what Sam endured,” said Major Kevin Sucher, commander of the state police, at a news conference.
Citing a felony complaint, local ABC and The CW affiliate WHAM reported that the suspects allegedly sexually assaulted Nordquist with a table leg and broomsticks and beat him with sticks, dog toys, ropes and belts until he died.
Afterward, they allegedly dumped his body in a field in Benton, where authorities found it on Thursday.
“In my 20-year law enforcement career, this is one of the most horrific crimes I have ever investigated,” New York State Police Captain Kelly Swift said.
Added Jim Ritts, the Ontario County District Attorney: “This is by far the worst homicide investigation that our office has ever been a part of. It is an ongoing investigation, so we are necessarily limited in the things that we can talk about. But no human being should have to endure what Sam endured.”
“The facts and the circumstances of this crime are beyond depraved,” he added.
The victim’s sister told local ABC affiliate KSTP that her brother had gone to New York to meet Arzuaga, who she did not like.
“I, off the bat, did not like Precious,” the sister said. “I did not trust Precious, and I begged Sam not to go meet her, but he felt that he was in love.”