Human remains believed to belong to Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota, were found in a field near Canandaigua, New York, on February 13. Authorities suspect Nordquist was the victim of a homicide, and five individuals have been charged with his murder. The suspects are accused of subjecting Nordquist to "repeated acts of violence and torture" before his tragic death.
The five charged individuals are Precious Arzuaga, 38; Jennifer Quijano, 30; Kyle Sage, 33; Patrick Goodwin, 30; and Emily Motyka, 19. They have been arraigned and are currently held at the Ontario County Jail. This case has shaken the community and drawn attention from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
Nordquist traveled to New York in September to meet a woman he referred to as his "online girlfriend." However, his family lost contact with him in January. The last known sighting of Nordquist was in early February, prompting his family to launch a search and ask authorities for a welfare check. On February 9, police began a missing person investigation.
Nordquist's mother, Linda, recounted her last conversation with him on New Year's Day.
“The last thing Sam said is, ‘I love you, and I’ll call you tomorrow.’ Tomorrow came, and I never heard a word.” – Linda Nordquist
Police investigations revealed that Nordquist had suffered ongoing physical abuse. Authorities searched several locations, including Patty's Lodge, a roadside motel where Nordquist was last seen. The police believe that the suspects moved Nordquist's body to a field in an attempt to "conceal the crime."
An autopsy by the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office will confirm the exact cause and manner of Nordquist's death. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Nordquist's family, raising over $47,000 from approximately 1,300 donors as of Sunday.
Linda Nordquist expressed her grief and disbelief at the tragic loss of her son.
“Nobody deserves this type of torment that he had to endure.” – Linda Norquist
“He had a heart of gold and wouldn’t hurt anybody.” – Linda Norquist
The New Pride Agenda, an LGBTQ+ rights organization, condemned the murder and highlighted the broader implications of such violence.
“We are devastated and enraged by the horrific murder of Sam Nordquist … whose life was brutally taken in the Finger Lakes region after enduring weeks of torture.” – The New Pride Agenda
“While arrests have been made, we know that this is not an isolated incident; it is a tragic consequence of the rising culture of hate in our society.” – The New Pride Agenda
Nordquist's family revealed that he had purchased a round-trip plane ticket and planned to return home by mid-October. However, he never made it back, leaving his loved ones reeling from his sudden disappearance and death.