Hopewell, N.Y. – In a deeply disturbing case, seven suspects accused of torturing and killing Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old Black transgender man, have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree murder.
The defendants—Precious Arzuaga, Jennifer Quijano, Kyle Sage, Patrick Goodwin, Thomas Eaves, Kimberly Socchia, and Emily Motyka—were arraigned Tuesday in Ontario County Court. If convicted, they could face life in prison without parole.
According to investigators, Nordquist was subjected to relentless abuse inside Patty’s Lodge, a motel in upstate New York, where he was beaten, sexually assaulted, and starved for more than a month before succumbing to his injuries. Authorities believe he was tortured using sticks, ropes, canes, and belts from January to February.
Arzuaga, Nordquist’s online girlfriend, allegedly coerced two young children into participating in the abuse. She and three others also face aggravated sexual abuse charges.
After losing contact with Nordquist, his family reported him missing. His sister, Kayla, launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund their travel to New York in search of answers. Tragically, Nordquist’s body was found in a field in Yates County, roughly 50 miles southeast of Rochester, last month.
Despite calls from LGBTQ advocates for hate crime charges, Ontario County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford emphasized that limiting the prosecution to a hate crime designation would not fully reflect the horror of this case.
“A hate crime would make this charge about Sam’s gender or about Sam’s race—and it’s so much bigger,” Wolford said. “We’ll never make sense of this case.”
All seven suspects remain in jail without bail as the community mourns Nordquist’s tragic fate. The investigation is ongoing.
