Full Breakdown
Guilty Plea in the Torture Murder of Transgender Man Sam Nordquist
6/27/2026, 12:33:54 PM
Core Event and Background
On June 26 2025, Precious Arzuaga, 38, pleaded guilty in Ontario County Court to first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, and two counts of first-degree coercion for forcing a 7-year-old and a 12-year-old to witness and assist in the torture of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old Black transgender man. Nordquist had traveled from Minnesota to Ontario County in September 2024 to meet Arzuaga, an online girlfriend, and never returned. Police later found his body wrapped in plastic in a Yates County field.
Timeline of Key Developments
- Sept 28 2024 – Nordquist arrives in upstate New York to meet Arzuaga.
- Dec 2024 – Feb 2025 – He endures ongoing physical abuse while held captive in Hopewell.
- Feb 13 2025 – Remains discovered in a field.
- Mar 5 2025 – Grand jury indictment describes weeks of beating, sexual assault, and forced consumption of urine and feces.
- June 26 2025 – Arzuaga enters guilty plea; sentencing set for September.
Data & Statistics
- Seven individuals arrested in connection with the murder.
- Two minors, ages 7 and 12, coerced to observe and assist.
- Abuse spanned at least three months, from December 2024 to February 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
Ontario County District Attorney James Ritts described the case as the worst homicide investigation his office has ever handled. District Attorney Jason MacBride announced that the office will seek a life sentence for Arzuaga at the September hearing. Both prosecutors stressed that the sentencing will reflect the crimes’ severity. Captain Kelly Swift of the New York State Police said the case ranks among the most horrific she has encountered in her career.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the abuse’s onset: one account cites “months of depraved torture,” while New York State Police specify “ongoing physical abuse between December 2024 and February 2025.” No public information has been released about the condition of the coerced children or any protective measures taken for them.
Verbatim Quotes
- “by far the worst homicide investigation that our office has ever been part of” — James Ritts, Ontario County District Attorney
- “Sam will never have another birthday, another holiday, another family dinner, or vacation.” — Linda Nordquist, Mother
What’s Next: Sentencing and Ongoing Trials
Arzuaga’s sentencing is slated for September 2025, where a life term is expected. The remaining five defendants—Jennifer A. Quijano, Kyle Sage, Patrick A. Goodwin, Kimberly L. Sochia, and Thomas G. Eaves—remain in pre-trial detention, with trials scheduled for later in 2025. Authorities continue to assess the welfare of the two child witnesses and to consider additional child-endangerment charges.
