New York Police accuses five with ‘troubling’ murder of trans man

Five people were indicted by the New York State Police for the murder of a lack of transient man, as authorities say, were tortured for more than a month.

Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old originally from Minnesota, was reported missing on February 9. He had arrived in New York in September and later lost contact with loved ones, police say.

At a TV news conference on Friday, police said the case is “one of the most horrible crimes” they had ever seen and that Nordquist was exposed to “deeply disturbing” abuse for months, starting in December.

All five suspects are held in police custody and everyone faces the second degree of murder complaints.

The defendants, all from the area near where Nordquist’s body was discovered in northern New York, are: Precious Arzuaga, Patrick Goodwin, Kyle Sage, Jennifer Quijano and Emily Motyka. They vary in ages from 19 to 38.

It is unclear if any of the five suspects had a lawyer. In the US legal system, the innocents are assumed until proven guilty of court.

Police said Nordquist’s body was discovered in a field on Thursday in the city of Benton, located about 85 kilometers southeast of Rochester.

They said they were looking for a room about 20 miles away from where the body was found where they revealed that Nordquist had suffered “long -term physical and psychological abuse in several individuals” from early December to this month.

Police said they believe the victim lived in a motel with one of the suspects and others. They did not offer many specific details and said their study is going on.

But Major Kevin Sucher of the New York State Police said the facts and circumstances of the case were “beyond depraved” and “by far the worst” murder investigation made by his office.

“No man had to have to endure what Sam endured,” said Major Sucher.

On the question of the death, being treated as a hate crime, police said they had not excluded it but added that their investigation remains active.

Captain Kelly Swift with the New York State Police said police are still working to determine Nordquist’s relationship with the suspects as well as the suspected relationships with each other.

Death has been met with shock and anguish by members of the LGBTQ community.

Rochester LGBTQ+ together, a local advocate group, said it was “angry and disgusted” to learn about the murder.

“The epidemic of violence against Trans Folx in this country is a direct consequence of ignorance and hatred that permeates our society,” the group said.

In a statement, three Rochester -Bydremembers -Mary Lupien, Stanley Martin and Kim Smith -said that hostility to transcend people is rising.

“We confirm our commitment to protect trans rights, ensure security of everyone and want to make it clear that you belong – rough, open and without fear,” they wrote.

ONE 2021 Study Published by the University of California, Los Angeles revealed that trans -fun people are over four times more likely than others to experience violence.