'Beyond depraved': 5 people arrested for allegedly torturing trans man for months, killing him

CANANAIGUA, N.Y. (TCN) -- Five people have been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly subjecting a missing 24-year-old trans man to ongoing physical abuse for several months and disposing of his body in a field.

According to New York State Police, Sam Nordquist traveled to New York from his home state of Minnesota in September 2024 and last spoke with his family in January. They reported him missing to New York State Police Troop E on Feb. 9 after asking troopers to conduct a welfare check at a lodge where Nordquist had been staying with some of the suspects.

Investigators discovered Nordquist’s remains in a field in another county and later arrested Precious Arzuaga, Jennifer Quijano, Kyle Sage, Patrick Goodwin, and Emily Motyka on charges of second-degree murder — depraved indifference.

In a press conference, Kelly Swift, captain of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation of Troop E, said investigators executed a search warrant at the lodge and uncovered a "deeply disturbing pattern of abuse that ultimately resulted in Sam’s tragic death."

Swift said Nordquist "endured prolonged physical and psychological abuse at the hands of multiple individuals" between December and February. She described it as "repeated acts of violence and torture."

Swift called this case "one of the most horrific crimes I’ve ever investigated."

Ontario County District Attorney James Ritts also spoke at the press conference and said, "The facts and circumstances of this case are beyond depraved. This is by far the worst homicide investigation that our office has ever been a part of."

He added, "No human being should have to endure what Sam endured."

Swift said investigators "haven’t ruled out" whether Nordquist’s death was a hate crime.

The five suspects are in custody and are being held without bail.

MORE: