Coalition for the
Murdered & Missing
Home | All Cases | The Murder of Sam Nordquist
Murder — Seven Suspects Charged, Awaiting Trial

The Murder of Sam Nordquist

● Seven Suspects Charged — Awaiting Trial Transgender Victim — He / Him Hopewell, Ontario County, New York February 2, 2025
Victim
Sam Nordquist
Age
24
Date of Death
February 2, 2025
From
Red Wing, Minnesota
Number of Suspects
Seven
Primary Charge
First-Degree Murder
Trial Scheduled
September 2026
Case Status
Awaiting Trial
Sam Nordquist
Full NameSam Nordquist
Age24
FromRed Wing, Minnesota
IdentityTransgender man, biracial
OccupationGroup home caregiver for people with disabilities
Left MinnesotaSeptember 28, 2024
Date of DeathFebruary 2, 2025
About the Victim

Sam Nordquist

Sam Nordquist was 24 years old, a biracial transgender man from Red Wing, Minnesota. He had attended Red Wing High School and worked at a group home for people with disabilities in Little Canada, Minnesota, a job that reflected who he was: someone who showed up for people who needed care. His mother described him as kind, outgoing, and deeply devoted to his family, adding that he would give you the shirt off his back. He was close with his mother and two siblings.

In the fall of 2024, Sam began an online relationship with a woman named Precious Arzuaga, who lived in Geneva, New York. On September 28, 2024, he left Minnesota to visit her, planning to return within two weeks. He stayed. His family maintained frequent contact with him through the fall, but by January 1, 2025, they could no longer reach him. In the communications they had received in the weeks before contact was lost, they noted he had seemed unlike himself. His mother made multiple requests for wellness checks from local police, which were declined. In December 2024, Ontario County Social Services sent an email showing Sam had visited their offices seeking what he described as an "escape plan," but he did not return to follow through.

The systems that could have reached him before it was too late did not. Sam Nordquist was killed on February 2, 2025. He was 24 years old.

01
Background

What We Know

When Sam arrived in New York in September 2024, he moved into Patty's Lodge Motel in Hopewell, Ontario County, with Precious Arzuaga and others connected to her. Investigators determined that the abuse began in early December 2024. For the next two months, Sam was held captive and subjected to sustained physical, psychological, and sexual torture by multiple individuals. He was beaten with sticks, dog toys, rope, belts, canes, bottles, and wooden boards. He was sexually assaulted with a table leg and a broomstick. He was denied adequate food and water. He was forced to consume urine and feces. Bleach was poured on him. He was restrained and forced to obey commands. Two children, aged 7 and 12, were present at the residence and were forced by Arzuaga to participate in the abuse.

Sam was killed on February 2, 2025. His body was then moved, wrapped in a bag, and disposed of in a field off Payne Road in Yates County, about 50 miles southeast of Rochester, in an attempt to conceal the crime. On February 9, 2025, Sam's family filed a missing persons report with the Canandaigua Police Department. New York State Police conducted a wellness check and searched a room at Patty's Lodge, where they discovered evidence of the abuse. Five suspects were arrested that same day. Sam's body was found on February 13, 2025. Two additional suspects were arrested on February 20.

New York State Police Captain Kelly Swift, who led the investigation, called it one of the most horrific crimes she had encountered in her career. The Ontario County District Attorney determined there was no evidence of a hate crime, noting that all suspects knew Sam, identified as LGBTQ+, and at least one had been living with him during the period of abuse. LGBTQ+ organizations including GLAAD disputed this framing, arguing that anti-trans violence can be perpetrated by anyone regardless of their own identity.

02
Case Timeline

How It Unfolded

September 28, 2024
Sam Leaves Minnesota
Sam Nordquist left Red Wing, Minnesota, to visit Precious Arzuaga in Geneva, New York. He planned to return within two weeks. He instead stayed to continue the relationship, settling at Patty's Lodge Motel in Hopewell, Ontario County.
December 2024
Abuse Begins — Sam Visits Social Services
Investigators determined that physical and psychological abuse of Sam began in early December 2024. That same month, Sam visited Ontario County Social Services, where he described needing an "escape plan." He did not return to follow through. His family began losing contact with him. Local police declined multiple wellness check requests from his family.
January 1, 2025
Family Loses Contact
Sam's family lost all contact with him after January 1, 2025. The communications they had received in the weeks prior indicated he had not seemed like himself.
February 2, 2025
Sam Is Killed
Sam Nordquist was killed on February 2, 2025, after more than two months of captivity and sustained torture. His body was then moved, wrapped in a bag, and disposed of in a field in Yates County in an attempt to conceal the crime.
February 9, 2025
Missing Person Report Filed — Five Arrested
Sam's family filed a missing persons report with the Canandaigua Police. New York State Police conducted a wellness check at Patty's Lodge and discovered evidence of the abuse in a room there. Five suspects were arrested that day and charged with second-degree murder.
February 13, 2025
Sam's Body Recovered in Yates County
Human remains believed to be Sam's were found in a field off Payne Road in Yates County, approximately 50 miles southeast of Rochester. The body had been moved from the location of the crime in an effort to conceal it.
February 20, 2025
Two Additional Suspects Arrested
Kimberly Sochia, 29, and Thomas Eaves, 21, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Sam's death, bringing the total number of suspects to seven. All were held without bail.
March 5–11, 2025
Charges Upgraded — All Seven Arraigned
The Ontario County District Attorney upgraded all charges from second-degree to first-degree murder, and added charges of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated sexual abuse (for four defendants), and concealment of a human corpse (for six). On March 11, all seven were arraigned in Ontario County Court before Judge Kristina Karle and entered not guilty pleas.
October 6, 2025
Pre-Trial Hearings Conclude
Pre-trial evidentiary hearings in the case concluded on October 6, 2025. All seven defendants remained in custody without bail.
February 2026 — Ongoing
Trial Proceedings Set for September 2026
At a scheduling conference on February 11, 2026, the Ontario County District Attorney's Office confirmed that trial proceedings will begin in September 2026. Multiple separate trials are expected, each anticipated to last approximately one month. Additional court appearances are set for April 22 and 24, 2026 to address severance motions and further scheduling. No specific trial date has yet been set.
03
Investigation

The Investigation

The investigation was led by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Canandaigua, in collaboration with the Ontario County Sheriff's Office, the City of Geneva Police Department, the Yates County Coroner's Office, and the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office. Investigators executed multiple search warrants at Patty's Lodge Motel and other locations, securing electronic devices, clothing, and personal effects. Cellphone data, witness interviews, and physical evidence from inside the motel room allowed investigators to piece together a timeline of the abuse going back to December 2024.

The case revealed a significant failure by local law enforcement prior to Sam's death. His mother made multiple requests for wellness checks in the months before the missing persons report was filed, all of which were declined. Sam himself had visited Ontario County Social Services in December 2024 to discuss an escape plan, but did not return. The email from Social Services confirming that visit was later shared with the family. Investigators did not reach him in time.

The Ontario County District Attorney determined that the case did not meet the legal threshold for a hate crime charge, noting that the suspects identified as LGBTQ+ and knew Sam personally. First Assistant DA Kelly Wolford stated that limiting the case to a hate crime charge would do a disservice to the full scope of what was done to Sam. LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, including GLAAD, publicly disagreed with this determination, arguing that anti-trans bias can be a factor regardless of a perpetrator's own identity.

04
Suspects

Arrests and Charges

Seven suspects have been charged in connection with Sam's torture and murder. All knew each other through a combination of romantic, familial, and social ties. All seven entered not guilty pleas at their March 11, 2025 arraignment and remain in custody without bail. Trial proceedings are scheduled to begin September 2026.

Precious Arzuaga
Precious Arzuaga
Age 38 — Sam's Online Girlfriend
Arrested: February 9, 2025 — Geneva, NY
Charges: First-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, endangering welfare of a child, coercing children to participate in torture, aggravated sexual abuse
Custody: Held without bail
Connection: Initiated online relationship with Sam, lived with him at Patty's Lodge Motel in Hopewell
Prior Record: Convicted of trespass, larceny, and animal cruelty
Jennifer Quijano
Jennifer Quijano
Age 30 — Geneva, NY
Arrested: February 9, 2025
Charges: First-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, endangering welfare of a child, concealment of a human corpse
Custody: Held without bail
Connection: Arzuaga's long-term on-again, off-again girlfriend
Kyle Sage
Kyle Sage
Age 33 — Hopewell, NY
Arrested: February 9, 2025
Charges: First-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, endangering welfare of a child, aggravated sexual abuse, concealment of a human corpse
Custody: Held without bail
Connection: Known through the group, lived at a nearby motel
Prior Record: Convicted of grand larceny and distributing pornography to a minor — on parole at time of murder, prison sentence completed May 2024
Patrick Goodwin
Patrick Goodwin
Age 30 — Rochester, NY
Arrested: February 9, 2025
Charges: First-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, endangering welfare of a child, aggravated sexual abuse, concealment of a human corpse
Custody: Held without bail
Connection: Known through the group, lived at Patty's Lodge with Sochia and Arzuaga
Prior Record: Registered sex offender, convicted of child sexual abuse 2015, released from prison 2023, on parole at time of murder
Emily Motyka
Emily Motyka
Age 19 — Geneva, NY
Arrested: February 9, 2025
Charges: First-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, endangering welfare of a child, concealment of a human corpse
Custody: Held without bail
Connection: Lived with Thomas Eaves at his grandmother's apartment
Kimberly Sochia
Kimberly Sochia
Age 29 — Canandaigua, NY
Arrested: February 20, 2025
Charges: First-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, endangering welfare of a child, concealment of a human corpse
Custody: Held without bail
Connection: Lived with Patrick Goodwin at Patty's Lodge Motel
Thomas Eaves
Thomas Eaves
Age 21 — Geneva, NY
Arrested: February 20, 2025
Charges: First-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, endangering welfare of a child, concealment of a human corpse
Custody: Held without bail
Connection: Arzuaga's son — lived with Emily Motyka at his grandmother's apartment
Charges — All Seven Defendants
First-Degree Murder  |  First-Degree Kidnapping  |  Second-Degree Conspiracy  |  Endangering the Welfare of a Child  |  Concealment of a Human Corpse (six defendants)  |  First-Degree Aggravated Sexual Abuse (four defendants)  |  Arzuaga additionally charged with coercing children to participate in the torture
05
In His Memory

He Is Not Forgotten

Sam Nordquist was 24 years old. He was kind and outgoing and gave everything he had to the people around him. He worked in a group home helping people with disabilities. He loved his mother and his siblings. He trusted someone he met online, and he tried, at least once, to find a way out. He went to the county. He told them he needed an escape plan. He did not get one in time.

His family asked for wellness checks. They were declined. Sam was killed over the course of weeks, and the systems around him did not reach him. That failure is part of his story, and it belongs in the record alongside the names of the people who will stand trial for what they did to him.

Vigils were held for Sam in Red Wing, in Canandaigua, and at the Minnesota State Capitol. The POCI Caucus and Queer Caucus of the Minnesota House of Representatives released a statement of solidarity. His community held him. His mother said he would give you the shirt off his back. He deserved every protection and every chance he was not given. Sam Nordquist is not forgotten.

LGBTQ+ Crisis & Support Resources

Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 — Peer support hotline run by and for trans people.

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678 — Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth.

NYC Anti-Violence Project: avp.org — Support for LGBTQ+ survivors of violence, including intimate partner violence and hate crimes.

Sources
New York State Police — Official Press Releases, February 2025  |  Ontario County District Attorney's Office — Press Conference & Arraignment Coverage, March 2025  |  Spectrum News 1 — Arraignment Coverage, March 2025; Trial Scheduling, February 2026  |  WIVB / RochesterFirst — DA Press Conference, March 2025  |  13WHAM — Investigation Coverage, 2025  |  NBC News — Mother's Statement, February 2025  |  Wikipedia — Killing of Sam Nordquist (compiled with citations)  |  Minnesota Star Tribune — Family Statement, February 2025
More Cases

Related Cases