Five Charged in Torture and Murder of Missing Transgender Man in New York

Authorities describe the killing of Sam Nordquist as one of the most horrific crimes they have ever investigated, with ongoing inquiries into potential hate crime motives.

Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota, was reported missing on February 9 and found dead after enduring over a month of torture.
Five suspects—Precious Arzuaga, Patrick Goodwin, Kyle Sage, Jennifer Quijano, and Emily Motyka—were arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Investigators discovered Nordquist’s body in a field after searching a motel room in Canandaigua, New York, his last known location.
Police are examining the relationships between Nordquist and the suspects, as well as among the suspects themselves, and have not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.
Community leaders and council members have condemned the violence, reaffirming support for transgender and LGBTQIA+ rights and organizing a vigil to honor Nordquist's memory.