It’s no secret that many folks in the U.S. hate certain groups of people. Tragically, hate crimes are alive and well today, whether they’re based on a person’s religion, race, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. But recently, two kids ages 7 and 12 were coerced into participating in the torture killing of a transgender man.
In early March 2025, a grand jury indictment was unsealed by New York prosecutors related to the death of a transgender man, Sam Nordquist, 24. Although LGBTQ+ groups called for them to pursue hate crimes, prosecutors claim the case is “bigger than a hate crime.” Let’s take a closer look at the details.
In February seven suspects were arrested in the death of Sam Nordquist.
Seven suspects were arrested in February in connection to Nordquist’s death, ABC News reported. They include Precious Arzuaga, 38; Kyle Sage, 33; Patrick Goodwin, 30; Emily Motyka, 19; Jennifer Quijano, 30; Kimberly Sochia, 29; and Thomas Eaves, 21.
All of them have been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy in the second degree.
“This is New York’s most significant and serious charge, and it carries with it the possibility of a sentence of life without parole,” Ontario County First Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford said of the first-degree murder count during a March 5 press conference.
Arzuaga faces additional charges after she coerced kids to participate in the torture killing.
Additionally, Arzuaga faces two counts of first-degree coercion.
Prosecutors alleged that she “compelled or induced” a 7-year-old and 12-year-old to “cause or attempt to cause physical injury” to Nordquist.
“To have two children have to participate in the beating of another human being, and it’s deeply disturbing, and it has — I can speak for myself and everyone involved in this investigation — been one of the most troubling parts of this. It’s heartbreaking,” Wolford said during a press conference.
She continued, “We have a 7-year-old and a 12-year-old who are also victims. They may have been forced to participate, but their lives are forever changed by what they saw and endured. We’re here, not just for Sam, but we’re here to seek justice for those two children, also.”
Sam’s body was found in a field on February 12.
On February 12, Sam’s remains were found in a field in Benton, New York, ABC News reported. Investigators think he died at a motel in Hopewell, New York, after enduring days of torture.
“It’s a rare circumstance where we stand before you and charge this subdivision of murder in the first degree, where it alleges that somebody was tortured to death,” Wolford pointed out during the news conference. “It specifically requires that we prove that all seven defendants tortured Sam Nordquist, and that they did so because they enjoyed it.”
During the press conference, Arzuaga detailed the torture Sam endured.
“He was forced to kneel and stand against a wall. He was physically assaulted. He was sexually assaulted. He was prevented from using his phone,” Wolford read from the indictment. “He was denied proper nutrition and hydration. He was fed feces. He was forced to drink urine and chew spit.”
She continued, “They physically restrained him. They forced him to obey their commands, treating him like a dog. They covered his face with towels and shirts and fabric. They used duct tape, and they poured bleach on him.”
Wolford also added, “We as a community are here to seek justice for Sam to help Sam’s family heal and to help our community heal from what is truly a horrendous act.”
Police said it was ‘bigger than a hate crime.’
During the press conference, Wolford also spoke about LGBTQ+ organizations calling for prosecutors to file hate crimes.
“I’m here to tell you today that we charge the highest count that is available under New York state law, and this case is bigger than a hate crime,” she explained. “A hate crime would make this charge about Sam’s gender or about Sam’s race, and it’s so much bigger. To limit us to a hate crime would be an injustice to Sam. Sam deserves to have this story told in its entirety.”
Although New York abolished the death penalty in 2007, Wolford noted, “This would have been a death penalty eligible charge.”
