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The victim, Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man
originally from Minnesota, was reported missing on Feb. 9.
Police said he arrived in New York in September and had lost
contact with loved ones.
Major Kevin Sucher, commander of the state police troop that
includes the Finger Lakes region, said the facts and
circumstances of the case were “beyond depraved" and “by far the
worst” homicide investigation the office has ever been part of.
“No human being should have to endure what Sam endured,” he
said, during televised news conference. Police did not share
many details of the case, noting it remained under active
investigation.
When asked if Nordquist's torture and death were considered a
hate crime, Capt. Kelly Swift the New York State Police Troop
E’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation said police hadn't ruled it
out but stressed the investigation was continuing. Investigators
also need to determine Nordquist's relationship with the
suspects as well as the suspects' relationships with one
another.
Those arrested include Precious Arzuaga, 38, and Patrick
Goodwin, 30, of Canandaigua, New York; Kyle Sage, 33, of
Rochester, New York; Jennifer Quijano, 30, of Geneva, New York;
and Emily Motyka, 19, of Lima, New York. All five were charged
with second-degree murder after police on Thursday searched a
room at the Patty's Lodge motel in Canandaigua, the last place
Nordquist was known to be staying.
All five were being held in police custody, pending arraignment.
It was unclear whether any had obtained an attorney.
The investigation has so far revealed a “deeply disturbing
pattern of abuse” that ultimately resulted in Nordquist's death,
said Swift, who called it “one of the most horrific crimes” she
has ever investigated in her 20-year law enforcement career.
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