Justice Takes Another Step as Third Defendant Admits Role in Sam Nordquist’s Death
On July 15, 2026, Jennifer A. Quijano stood before Ontario County Judge Kristina Karle and admitted her role in one of the most disturbing crimes in New York history. After weeks of legal proceedings, the ringleader pleads guilty after the murder and torture of transgender Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old man from Oakdale, Minnesota, who died in February 2025 after weeks of unimaginable abuse. Meanwhile, Quijano, 32, responded with single-word answers as prosecutors detailed how she and others kicked, bound, and sexually violated Nordquist before dumping his body in a Yates County field.
Sam Nordquist’s mother, Linda Nordquist, and sister, Kayla Nordquist, traveled 17 hours from Minnesota to witness the proceedings. During the hearing, they wept openly as Assistant District Attorney James Nobles recounted the torture their loved one endured. After the proceedings concluded, Kayla later told reporters that no amount of justice could bring Sam back, expressing the profound emptiness that accompanies such a loss.
Quijano is the third defendant to plead guilty in this case. In addition to state charges, she faces life in prison without parole. However, a federal investigation is ongoing, which could potentially result in death penalty charges. Because of its brutality, the case has drawn national attention not only for its savagery but also for the questions it raises about how vulnerable people fall prey to manipulative predators.
What Happened to Sam Nordquist?
Sam Nordquist flew from Minnesota to New York on September 28, 2024, believing he would meet Precious Arzuaga, a 38-year-old woman he had fallen in love with online. According to prosecutors and family members, Sam met Arzuaga on TikTok during the summer of 2024. After connecting online, their relationship developed quickly, and what should have been a two-week visit to the Finger Lakes region became a nightmare from which Sam would never escape.
Sam’s Arrival and Captivity
After arriving at Patty’s Lodge, a rundown motel outside Canandaigua in Hopewell, New York, Sam never boarded his return flight home. Instead, he stayed in Room 22 with Arzuaga, her two young children, and Jennifer Quijano. As a result, what followed was a prolonged period of control, violence, and torture that ultimately claimed his life.
Between January 1 and February 2, 2025, seven individuals participated in the systematic abuse of Sam Nordquist. According to prosecutors, the group beat him with sticks, dog toys, ropes, and belts. In addition to physical beatings, they sexually assaulted him with a table leg and broomstick. Furthermore, they denied him food and water, forced him to consume urine, feces, and tobacco juice, and poured bleach over his battered body.
Timeline: From Online Romance to Tragic Death
September 28, 2024: Sam Nordquist Arrives in New York
Sam flew from Minnesota to meet Precious Arzuaga in person for the first time. At that moment, he believed he would visit someone who accepted him and offered him a family. Instead, he encountered a manipulative woman prosecutors would later describe as the ringleader of a torture ring.
October – December 2024: Warning Signs Emerge
Sam’s family began losing regular contact with him. As weeks passed, his communications became sparse and unusual. During this period, Linda Nordquist told investigators that Sam didn’t seem like himself in his messages. Because of their concerns, the family requested multiple wellness checks from local police, but authorities declined these requests. In December, Sam visited Ontario County Social Services offices seeking an “escape plan” but failed to return.
January 1 – February 2, 2025: The Torture Period
According to court documents and witness statements, the systematic torture of Sam Nordquist occurred during this month-long period. During those horrific weeks, all seven defendants participated to varying degrees. Moreover, Arzuaga forced her own children, aged 7 and 12, to participate in the abuse. Meanwhile, the group kept Sam prisoner in the motel room, restraining him for up to 12 hours at a time and duct-taping his hands to his head.
February 2, 2025: Sam Nordquist Dies
After enduring weeks of torture, Sam succumbed to his injuries on February 2, 2025. However, the exact cause of death has not been publicly disclosed pending the completion of autopsy reports from the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.
February 9, 2025: Wellness Check and Discovery
After Sam’s family filed a missing persons report with the Ontario County Sheriff, New York State Police conducted a wellness check. When deputies searched Room 22 at Patty’s Lodge, they discovered evidence of the horrific abuse.
February 13, 2025: Body Discovered
Authorities found Sam’s remains in a farm field in Yates County, approximately 50 miles southeast of Rochester. Before discovery, the group had moved his body in an attempt to conceal the crime.
February 14, 2025: First Arrests Announced
New York State Police Captain Kelly Swift held a news conference announcing the arrests of five suspects. During the briefing, Swift called it “one of the most horrific crimes” she had investigated in her law enforcement career.
February 20, 2025: Additional Arrests
Police arrested two more suspects, bringing the total to seven people charged in connection with Sam’s death.
March 5, 2025: Charges Upgraded
Prosecutors upgraded murder charges against all defendants from second-degree murder with depraved indifference to first-degree murder. In addition, prosecutors also revealed that Arzuaga had forced two children to participate in the torture.
June 2, 2026: First Guilty Plea
Emily Motyka, 19 at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping. As a result of her plea, she faces 15 years to life in prison.
June 26, 2026: Ringleader Pleads Guilty
Precious Arzuaga pleaded guilty to all 10 charges against her, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, concealment of a human corpse, conspiracy, coercion, and endangering the welfare of a child. Despite her cooperation, she received no plea deal and faces life without parole.
July 15, 2026: Jennifer Quijano Pleads Guilty
Jennifer Quijano admitted to all eight charges against her in Ontario County Court. Throughout the proceeding, she showed little emotion until prosecutors described the sexual abuse. At that moment, she became visibly red in the face as prosecutors recounted her crimes.
Who Is Jennifer Quijano and What Role Did She Play?
Jennifer A. Quijano, who often goes by the nickname “Brooklyn,” was 32 years old at the time of her guilty plea. According to court documents and testimony from former friends and partners of Precious Arzuaga, Quijano had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Arzuaga for many years.
Former partners described Quijano as Arzuaga’s longtime lover who had herself suffered abuse. According to their accounts, they said another person had kept Quijano in a basement for years and that she could not read or write. However, when Judge Karle asked Quijano in court whether she could read and write, she replied that she could.
Quijano’s Relationship with Arzuaga
In 2024, Quijano filed for a restraining order against Arzuaga in Erie County Family Court in Buffalo. In that filing, she accused Arzuaga of strangling her on multiple occasions with her hands, a telephone cord, and a chain dog collar. Furthermore, she also claimed Arzuaga threatened her with a BB gun, smashed her head into a microwave, and hit her in the face with a plank of wood.
Despite this documented history of abuse, Quijano remained with Arzuaga. According to former friend Christina Gonzalez, who spoke to syracuse.com, Arzuaga targeted people who struggled with addiction, mental illness, or intellectual disabilities. “She likes to mess with the weak-minded,” Gonzalez said, adding that Quijano always stayed because she had no one else.
Quijano’s Statement to Police
On February 13, 2025, Quijano voluntarily went to the Geneva Police Department asking to speak with investigators about “the incident.” According to New York State Police Investigator Andrew Muscari, she gave a written statement that implicated her in the crime. During her interview, Quijano told investigators that she and Arzuaga had gotten back together in November 2024 after Arzuaga learned Sam had cheated on her. As their relationship rekindled, the women got engaged a couple of weeks later.
Quijano claimed that Arzuaga made her “discipline” Sam for the alleged cheating by “smacking, punching and hitting him.” In her statement, she told police it brought back memories of when Arzuaga used to abuse her. “I would tell Sam to just listen to Precious so I didn’t have to hit him anymore,” her written deposition states.
During her July 2026 court appearance, prosecutors asked Quijano a series of detailed questions. In response, she admitted her actions, including beating, kicking, and sexually assaulting Sam, caused his death. Moreover, she acknowledged she committed these acts for the gratification of herself and others. After further questioning, she also admitted to participating in concealing Sam’s body after his death.
Who Are the Other Defendants in Sam Nordquist’s Murder?
Precious Arzuaga
Precious Arzuaga, 38 at the time of the crime (born May 28, 1986), has been described by prosecutors as the ringleader of the group. According to court testimony, she forced her own children, aged 7 and 12, to participate in torturing Sam Nordquist. Furthermore, according to witness statements and former partners, Arzuaga had a pattern of drawing people in with affection before becoming controlling, abusive, and manipulative.
Arzuaga pleaded guilty on June 26, 2026, to all charges against her. Despite the severity of her crimes, she received no plea deal and faces life in prison without parole. As a result, Judge Karle will sentence her on September 4, 2026. Meanwhile, a federal investigation is ongoing, which could result in additional charges carrying the death penalty.
Arzuaga had prior convictions for misdemeanor trespass and larceny. In addition, in 2016, authorities charged her with animal cruelty after they removed her dog.
Emily Motyka
Emily Motyka was 19 years old at the time of Sam’s murder. During that period, she lived with Thomas Eaves at his grandmother’s apartment. On June 2, 2026, Motyka pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping. As a result of her plea, she faces 15 years to life in prison, with a maximum sentence of 50 years to life. However, the court has not set a sentencing date.
The Defendants’ Legal Status
Kyle R. Sage
Kyle R. Sage, 33, was born on October 5, 1991, and is from Hopewell, New York. At the time of Sam’s murder, he was on parole after a court convicted him of grand larceny and distributing pornography to a minor. Before the crime, Sage finished his prison sentence in May 2024, just months before the crime occurred. During this time, he lived at a motel near Patty’s Lodge. Because of his criminal history, Sage is a registered sex offender and has pleaded not guilty. Despite the evidence against him, his trial is scheduled for 2027.
Patrick A. Goodwin
Patrick A. Goodwin, 30, was born in October 1994 and is from Rochester, New York. In 2015, a court convicted him of child sexual abuse, and authorities released him from prison in 2023. As a registered sex offender on parole, Goodwin was already under supervision when he participated in Sam’s torture and murder. At that time, he lived with Kimberly Sochia at Patty’s Lodge. Despite the charges, Goodwin has pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, prosecutors have requested that the court combine his trial with Sage’s trial in early January 2027.
Thomas Eaves
Thomas Eaves, 21, is Precious Arzuaga’s son. During the time of the crime, he lived with Emily Motyka at his grandmother’s apartment. Despite his relationship to the alleged ringleader, Eaves faces the same serious charges as the other defendants. Nevertheless, he has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial in 2027.
Kimberly Sochia
Kimberly Sochia, 29, lived with Patrick Goodwin at Patty’s Lodge. Despite her connection to the case, she has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial in 2027.
Why Wasn’t This Prosecuted as a Hate Crime?
Many LGBTQ advocates and organizations have questioned why prosecutors did not charge the defendants with hate crimes. As a result, the case has generated significant controversy on this point.
Ontario County District Attorney Jason MacBride stated there was no evidence the killing was a hate crime. In addition, Assistant DA Kelly Wolford explained the decision in detail: “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 was beaten, assaulted, sexually abused, starved, held captive. And we cannot make sense of that. We cannot put that on his gender, and we cannot put that on his race.”
Prosecutors noted that Sam’s assailants knew each other and that at least one defendant identified as LGBTQ+. Before the abuse began, Precious Arzuaga had been in a romantic relationship with Sam Nordquist. Furthermore, several defendants had romantic relationships with each other.
However, advocacy organizations including GLAAD, the largest LGBTQ advocacy organization in the country, urged prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges. In a press release, GLAAD stated: “While we are encouraged to see law enforcement act swiftly to investigate this horrific act, we caution investigators from ruling out hate crime charges. Anti-LGBTQ hate can be perpetuated by anyone, regardless of their relationship to the victim or their own gender identity or sexual orientation.”
The New York City Anti-Violence Project released a statement noting that regardless of how law enforcement classified the case, anti-trans violence often intersects with racism, hate violence, and intimate partner violence.
Rochester LGBTQ+ Together, an advocacy group, reported that it was “angered and disgusted” to learn about Sam’s killing. Similarly, The New Pride Agenda, an LGBTQ rights organization based in New York, stated: “This is not an isolated incident; it is a tragic consequence of the rising culture of hate in our society.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the events “deeply disturbing” on Bluesky, writing that “Minnesota stands with our LGBTQ neighbors against this unthinkable crime.” Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement offering support to Sam’s family and pledging any assistance needed to secure justice.
What Did Sam Nordquist’s Family Say About the Guilty Pleas?
Kayla and Linda Nordquist have attended every significant court appearance in this case, making the 17-hour drive from Minnesota six times since Sam’s death. Despite the immense physical and emotional toll, their presence in the courtroom represents their unwavering commitment to seeking justice for Sam, even as they acknowledge that no legal outcome can bring him back.
After Quijano’s guilty plea, Kayla told reporters: “There’s no amount of justice. None. There’s nothing they can say, there’s nothing they could do that would bring him back, and there’s just no justice.”
She described the pain of sitting in the courtroom: “I think of Sam crying and screaming and begging for help, and no one was helping him. That’s what I think about in the courtroom and that’s what I hear.”
Kayla expressed skepticism about the defendants’ remorse: “I’m glad they are taking accountability, but I don’t think that they feel guilty. She wasn’t guilty when she was raping him and beating him and starving him. She didn’t feel guilty then. I don’t believe she feels guilty now.”
Linda Nordquist told WROC in an interview: “They can rot. They are scum, they are evil. I don’t know how somebody can be that evil.” In addition, she also criticized law enforcement, claiming they failed to “do their jobs” when she called to request wellness checks on Sam in the months before his death.
After Arzuaga’s guilty plea, Linda said: “Sam will never have another birthday, another holiday, another family dinner, or vacation. He won’t get married. He won’t have children. He’s gone. 24. Too young. He had a lot to live for, and everybody loved him.”
Kayla emphasized that she wants the world to remember Sam for who he was, not how he died: “I loved him, and I still love him. He mattered and he still matters. I want the world to know Sam Nordquist’s name. He was a genuinely good person and he did not deserve this. My poor brother. He was just a baby.”
The family has expressed frustration that not all details of Sam’s abuse have been revealed in court. After one hearing, Kayla said: “I feel like I was slapped in the face because I deserve the truth, my mom deserves the truth, the community deserves the truth, and I don’t feel like we got all of what happened to Sam today.”
Despite the immense pain, the Nordquist family has committed to attending every sentencing, trial, and plea hearing for all remaining defendants. However, once all court proceedings are finalized, they say they will never return to this part of New York.
How Did Police Miss the Warning Signs?
One of the most troubling aspects of this case is the apparent failure of multiple systems designed to protect vulnerable people. Because Sam’s family grew concerned, they requested wellness checks multiple times in the months leading up to their formal missing persons report. According to Linda Nordquist, local police declined these requests.
Systemic Failures and Missed Opportunities
In December 2024, Sam visited Ontario County Social Services seeking help. During that visit, records show he spoke to caseworkers about needing an “escape plan.” However, he failed to return to their offices after that initial contact. When Linda Nordquist received an email from the agency documenting this visit, it raised questions about whether a follow-up could have saved Sam’s life.
Law enforcement responded to calls at Patty’s Lodge eight times between Sam’s arrival in September 2024 and his death in February 2025, according to records obtained by NBC News. Despite these contacts, no intervention occurred that might have prevented the tragedy.
New York State Police did not conduct a wellness check until February 9, 2025, after Sam’s family filed a formal missing persons report with the Ontario County Sheriff. When deputies finally searched Room 22 at Patty’s Lodge, they discovered evidence of the horrific abuse. Four days later, they found Sam’s body.
Captain Kelly Swift acknowledged the disturbing nature of the case at a February 14, 2025 news conference. During the briefing, she stated that evidence and witness statements suggested Sam endured prolonged physical and psychological abuse from multiple individuals prior to his death.
These systemic failures have led to calls for reform in how authorities conduct wellness checks and handle reports of vulnerable missing persons.
What Are the Federal Charges That Could Bring the Death Penalty?
Both Jennifer Quijano and Precious Arzuaga face ongoing federal investigations that could result in additional charges. Because New York does not have the death penalty, federal charges represent the only way these defendants could face capital punishment.
Judge Kristina Karle mentioned the federal investigation during Quijano’s plea hearing, telling her she could not promise what would happen in the federal case even if she pleaded guilty to state charges. In explaining the situation, defense attorney Neil Gunther confirmed: “The federal case does come with the potential of a death penalty. So that is something that is a part of this case that we were kind of working through as we try to figure out what happened here.”
Assistant District Attorney James Nobles suggested the federal investigation created pressure for defendants to plead guilty in state court: “There also is pressure from a federal investigation that would cause people to plead guilty here. I think working in concert with the other investigation and putting this together, along with the other pleas, sort of built a level of momentum that got us here today.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not yet filed charges or revealed what federal crimes they are investigating. However, many crimes can violate both federal and state laws. When that occurs, the local U.S. Attorney’s Office works with local and state law enforcement to determine if federal charges are appropriate.
Linda Nordquist expressed mixed feelings about the possibility of the death penalty: “I don’t necessarily agree with the death penalty, based on the fact that I want them to have done what they did to Sam. Death penalty is the easy way out. But then on the flip side of that, you can be on death row for years if not decades, so it’s hard to feel any kind of way about that.”
Who Was Sam Nordquist?
Sam Nordquist was born in Red Wing, Minnesota. After attending Red Wing High School, he later received his high school diploma from Face to Face Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota. Following his death, Face to Face Academy established a scholarship and memorial garden in his legacy.
Sam’s Life and Legacy
Sam worked at a group home for people with disabilities in Little Canada, Minnesota. According to his mother and coworkers, he was deeply compassionate and committed to helping others. When describing her son, Linda Nordquist said he “would give you the shirt off his back” and was “very kind, loved his family, loved his nieces and nephew, very outgoing, worked hard.”
Sam identified as biracial and was close with his mother and two siblings. Despite the tragedy that befell him, friends and family members consistently describe him as a genuinely good person who did not deserve what happened to him.
His decision to travel to New York in September 2024 came from a place of hope and longing for connection. Like many people, Sam sought love and acceptance. Because he trusted what he saw online, he believed he had found both in his online relationship with Precious Arzuaga. Instead, he encountered a predator who exploited his vulnerability.
What Happens Next in the Sam Nordquist Case?
Four defendants still await trial: Kyle R. Sage, Patrick A. Goodwin, Kimberly Sochia, and Thomas Eaves. Despite the evidence against them, all have pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, concealment of a human corpse, and endangering the welfare of a child.
First Assistant District Attorney James Nobles announced that the prosecution will ask the judge to schedule all remaining defendants for trial on January 4, 2027, if they don’t plead guilty before then. In addition, the district attorney’s office will also request that the court try the two registered sex offenders, Sage and Goodwin, together.
Jennifer Quijano is scheduled for sentencing at 9:30 a.m. on September 8, 2026. Before that, Judge Karle will sentence Precious Arzuaga on September 4, 2026. As a result of their guilty pleas, both women face life in prison without parole. Meanwhile, Emily Motyka faces 15 years to life in prison with a maximum sentence of 50 years to life. However, the court has not set her sentencing date.
The federal investigation continues, though prosecutors have filed no charges as of this writing. If federal prosecutors decide to pursue capital charges, both Quijano and Arzuaga could face the death penalty.
Sam’s family has stated they will attend every sentencing and trial. Despite the emotional toll, their presence ensures that people hear Sam’s story and that his humanity is not lost in legal proceedings.
Stay Connected for Updates on This Case and Others
The case of Sam Nordquist represents one of the most disturbing crimes in recent New York history. As legal proceedings continue for the remaining defendants, we will provide comprehensive coverage that honors Sam’s memory while examining the psychological and social factors that enabled such brutality.
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Sources
- Syracuse.com: Third woman pleads guilty in torture killing of Sam Nordquist
- ABC News 4: ‘Ringleader’ in transgender man’s torture and killing pleads guilty
- Democrat and Chronicle: Jennifer Quijano pleads guilty in Sam Nordquist murder case
- Spectrum News: Defendant in Nordquist changes plea
- WHAM: Third defendant pleads guilty in Sam Nordquist murder case
- Wikipedia: Killing of Sam Nordquist
A Crime That Demands Reflection
The torture and murder of Sam Nordquist forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about predatory manipulation, systemic failures, and the vulnerability of people seeking connection. When Sam traveled to New York, he believed he had found love and acceptance. Instead, he found a group of people who exploited his trust and humanity in the most horrific ways imaginable.
This case illustrates how predators like Precious Arzuaga identify and exploit vulnerable individuals. According to former partners and friends, Arzuaga followed a pattern: she targeted people struggling with addiction, mental illness, or intellectual disabilities. First, she drew them in with affection before becoming controlling and abusive. As a tragic example, Jennifer Quijano, herself a victim of Arzuaga’s abuse, became a perpetrator rather than protecting Sam from the same fate she had endured.
The involvement of children, whom their mother forced to participate in torture, adds another layer of tragedy. As a result, these young victims will carry the trauma of what they witnessed and what Arzuaga compelled them to do for the rest of their lives. Moreover, their forced participation represents a profound betrayal by the person who should have protected them above all others.
Sam Nordquist mattered. Despite his tragic end, people loved him. Furthermore, he had dreams and a future that someone stole from him. Because of their love for Sam, his family’s determination to attend every court proceeding, despite the 17-hour drive and the pain of hearing what Sam endured, ensures that his humanity remains at the center of this case. In addition, their courage in the face of unimaginable grief serves as a reminder that behind every true crime story is a real person whose absence leaves a permanent void.
As we follow this case to its conclusion, we must remember Sam not as a victim of torture, but as Kayla described him: a genuinely good person who loved his family, worked hard, and would give you the shirt off his back. That is the legacy Sam Nordquist deserves.
