Women who tortured transgender man for days before dumping his body get life without parole

Sam Nordquist was 24 and living in Oakdale, Minnesota, when he began an online relationship with Precious Arzuaga in upstate New York. He traveled to meet her in September 2024 and never came home. The two women at the center of his death have now been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Judge Kristina Karle handed Precious Arzuaga, 40, the maximum penalty on every count she pleaded guilty to, according to ABC. Jennifer Quijano, 32, received the same sentence for first-degree murder, along with lesser terms on kidnapping, conspiracy, and aggravated sexual abuse. Both women must register as sex offenders.

Nordquist was held at Patty’s Lodge, a roadside motel in Hopewell outside Canandaigua, from January 1 to February 2, 2025. He was tortured physically and psychologically across those weeks before he died, and his body was later found in a Yates County field. The sustained nature of the abuse mattered legally, as New York permits a first-degree murder charge when a killing involves prolonged torture.

Prosecutors say Quijano wanted Nordquist dead out of jealousy

Prosecutors identified Arzuaga as the ringleader and said she was the person who drew Nordquist to New York. The case follows another recent conviction involving a woman accused of setting a fatal attack on her boyfriend in motion. She pleaded guilty in June to first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, conspiracy, coercion, concealment of a human corpse, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Assistant District Attorney Sara Van Strydonck told the court that Quijano hated Nordquist because he had Arzuaga’s attention, and that jealousy was the motive. Quijano’s attorneys argued that Arzuaga had abused her. She pleaded guilty in July and admitted taking part in the beatings and helping conceal the body.

Prosecutors said Arzuaga and Quijano coerced two of Arzuaga’s children, then aged seven and 12, into taking part in the abuse. She admitted that Nordquist was held in a room she shared with them. Before sentencing she apologized to his family, said she could not take back what happened, and told the court she would accept whatever punishment it gave.

Nordquist was a Black transgender man, and his killing raised questions about whether anti-transgender bias played a part. However, investigators have said they found no evidence supporting a hate crime charge, as he knew the defendants personally and some of them identified as LGBTQ+. Several advocacy groups pushed for further review.

Seven people were charged in the case. Kyle Sage and Emily Motyka have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping, with Sage due to be sentenced on December 2 and no date yet set for Motyka. Patrick Goodwin, Kimberly Sochia, and Thomas Eaves have pleaded not guilty.

Trials for the three remaining defendants are expected next year. All three have pleaded not guilty.