Warning: This story has details of a violent crime
Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota, travelled to the small town of Canandaigua in upstate New York in September 2024 to meet Previous Arzuaga, whom he had met online and believed was his girlfriend.
Today, Arzuaga was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for Nordquist’s murder. She admitted physically and psychologically torturing him for more than a month before his death. Her convictions include first-degree murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, child endangerment, coercion, and sexual abuse.
Nordquist’s family reported him missing in December 2024. In February 2025, they filed an additional missing-person report with local police. A week later, investigators discovered his body in a field. (Dates should be verified before publication.)
Captain Kelly Swift, who announced last year that the case was being treated as a homicide investigation, described it as one of the most disturbing cases of her career.
“In my 20-year law enforcement career, this is one of the most horrific crimes I have ever investigated,” she said.
According to investigators, Nordquist was held in a motel room for more than a month, during which he was repeatedly sexually assaulted, physically assaulted, and tortured.
Seven people have been charged in connection with his death. Alongside Arzuaga, the accused are Jennifer Quijano, Emily Motyka, Kyle Sage, Patrick Goodwin, Thomas Eaves, who is Arzuaga’s son, and Kimberly Sochia.
At a court hearing in Rochester, Judge Kristina Karle sentenced Arzuaga to life imprisonment without parole. Local media reported that the judge was moved to tears by victim-impact statements delivered by Nordquist’s mother, Linda Nordquist, and his sister, Kayla Nordquist.
“My brother is gone. Nothing will ever change that,” Kayla Nordquist said.
“That’s the person I want you to know today. Sam, my brother. Not Sam, the victim. He was the kind of person who would drop everything to help someone else.”
Kayla Nordquist said her brother believed he had found someone who loved him for who he was when he met Arzuaga.
“He wanted to build a life with someone who loved him for exactly who he was,” she said.
Before sentencing, Arzuaga apologised to Nordquist’s family. The now 40-year-old woman said she was sorry.
“I want to say I’m sorry for what happened to Sam,” she said.
“I can’t take back what happened, although I wish I could. Sam really did love me and my kids.”
Co-defendant Jennifer Quijano is also expected to be sentenced today. She pleaded guilty to charges including murder, kidnapping, concealment of a human corpse, child endangerment, and sexual abuse.
Emily Motyka and Kyle Sage have also pleaded guilty. Sage is scheduled to be sentenced in December. The remaining three defendants will each face separate trials.
Authorities declined to pursue hate-crime charges, which could have resulted in enhanced penalties. Prosecutors argued it would be difficult to prove that the crimes were motivated by gender identity, sexuality, or race, noting that some of the accused also identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The decision was criticised by LGBTQIA+ advocacy organisation GLAAD, which said:
“Anti-LGBTQ hate can be perpetuated by anyone, regardless of their relationship to the victim or their own gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Last weekend, Rochester hosted its first Trans Pride Parade. Nordquist’s family participated in the event, where the inaugural Sam’s Legacy Award was presented to Brittan Bowick-Hardgers, leader of Rochester’s Next Generation Men of Transition and an advocate for the local transgender community.
