Overview

• Seven suspects, including Sam Nordquist's former partner, Precious Arzuaga, have pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
• Prosecutors allege Nordquist was tortured for over a month at a New York motel, suffering physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, before his death in February 2025.
• The indictment details that two children, aged 7 and 12, were coerced into participating in the abuse, with protective orders issued to prevent contact with them.
• Nordquist's family had reported him missing after losing contact during his visit to New York to meet Arzuaga, whom he had met online.
• While LGBTQ advocates have called for hate crime charges, prosecutors argue that limiting the case to hate crime charges would not fully address the severity of the crimes committed.