CANANDAIGUA, NY — On Friday, law enforcement officials in New York State announced charges of murder against five individuals in connection with the death of a man who had been reported missing. Authorities revealed that the victim suffered through a prolonged series of violent acts and torture inflicted by multiple assailants over a span of more than a month before they disposed of his body in a field.
The deceased, 24-year-old Sam Nordquist, a transgender man from Minnesota, was reported missing on February 9. He had arrived in New York in September, having lost contact with his family and friends shortly thereafter.
Major Kevin Sucher, who oversees the state police division for the Finger Lakes area, described the circumstances surrounding the case as “beyond depraved” and marked it as the most heinous homicide investigation his office has encountered. Sucher expressed his deep concern during a televised press briefing, stating, “No human being should have to endure what Sam endured.” He also noted that details are still being withheld as the inquiry is ongoing.
When questioned about whether the brutal treatment and subsequent death of Nordquist could be classified as a hate crime, Captain Kelly Swift from the State Police Troop E’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation mentioned that this possibility had not been ruled out but emphasized the need for further investigation. Authorities are working to establish the nature of Nordquist’s connections to the suspects and their relationships to one another.
Those apprehended and charged with second-degree murder include Precious Arzuaga, 38, and Patrick Goodwin, 30, both of Canandaigua; Kyle Sage, 33, of Rochester; Jennifer Quijano, 30, of Geneva; and Emily Motyka, 19, from Lima. The arrests followed a police search of a room at Patty’s Lodge motel in Canandaigua, which was identified as Nordquist’s last known location.
Currently, all five suspects are held in police custody while awaiting arraignment, though it’s uncertain if any of them have secured legal representation.
The investigation has unveiled a “deeply disturbing pattern of abuse” linked to Nordquist’s tragic end, as described by Captain Swift, who referred to it as “one of the most horrific crimes” in her two-decade career in law enforcement.
