CANANGDAIGUA, NY — New York officials on Wednesday outlined the surprising stories of intrigue, torture and sexual assault in the murder of Sam Nordquist, a transgender man in Minnesota.
The sufferings borne by the seven people accused of the temptation described in the 11 count indictment filed in Ontario County Court include the Nordquist anal, hunger, hunger, excretion, forced consumption of urine, urine and cigarette juice, pouring his bleach, facial cleanser, hunger, and attacking objects on forced consumption, kicking, punching and insertion. The indictment also argues for forced participation of young children in assault and torture.
Crime brutality and descent – allegedly given to black transgender men from January 1st to February 2nd – sparked local demonstrations by LGBTQ rights advocates, raising questions from activists and his family.
The indictment came the day after Nordquist was placed to rest in his native Minnesota. The 24-year-old left Oakdale, Minnesota to Ontario County, New York in September, where he connected to a woman he met online. The woman, the precious Alzuaga, is one of seven people charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, a donation, two counts of conspiracy and two counts that endanger the welfare of a child.
She and three others, Kyle Sage, Patrick Goodwin and Jennifer Kijano, were charged with aggravated sexual abuse. Additionally, Alzugha was charged with coercion, where the children of seven and twelve allegedly forced to take part in the attacks on the Nordquist. Seven are also accused of hiding the Nordquist’s body, which is said to have been wrapped in plastic bags and abandoned in farmers’ fields.
The horrifying details are likely to grow as investigators stitch together what happened in room 22 of Patty’s lodge in Hopewell town, officials said.
The charges are “just a small portion” of the Nordquist’s ordeal, and Ontario County Assistant Kelly Walford, said at a press conference that she was visibly upset when she discussed the charges. “That’s what we know now,” Walford said.
Crime is almost impossible to understand, she said.
“We never know the answer. “What happened to Sam, what kind of person could do?”
Seven people accused – Alzuaga, 38. Her sons, Thomas Eves, 21; Quijano, 30; Sage, 33; Goodwin, 30; Emily Motica, 19; and Kimberly Sochia, 29 – all knew each other, to some romantic, Wolford said. Records show that Goodwin, a registered sex offender, was staying in a room near Patty at the time. Goodwin and Sage were parole from previous sexually related crimes. All seven ended in room 22 of Patty’s lodge. It is said that Nordquists were captured, tortured and killed.
“They forced him to follow their orders and treated him like a dog,” Wolford said.
The Ontario County Dispute Defense Department, which represents the seven suspects, declined to comment.
Over the past few weeks, LGBTQ advocates from across the country have urged authorities not to rule out the possibility that the killing of Nordquists is a hate crime.
Wolford said prosecutors chose to charge seven people with first-degree murder, rather than hating crimes against black transgender men, as it is the heaviest penalty available under New York law. If convicted, seven defendants can risk their lives in prison without parole.
“Hate crimes will take this responsibility for Sam’s gender and Sam’s race. That’s much greater,” Walford said. “It’s illicit to Sam to limit us to hate crimes. Sam deserves to have him tell the story in full.”
Wolford was called the forced 2 young children and took part in the torture of Nordquists in “one of the more troublesome parts” of the investigation. Child involvement was previously unknown.
“It’s heartbreaking. We have 7 and 12 years old,” she said. “They may have been forced to participate, but their lives will forever be changed by what they saw and endured there.”
When asked whether the children belong to Alzhaga and whether they are currently in state custody, Welford declined to comment.
Patty’s lodge has not been investigated for fraud, Walford said. She added that there were no witnesses reporting Nordquist prisoners or torture to the authorities while he was alive.
“This is the place for the home,” she said. “It looks like a motel, but these people live there full time, so what happens in their homes isn’t necessarily the Patty lodge responsible for.”
Nordquist’s mother and sisters proposed in a previous interview with NBC News that Nordquist’s death is preventable if the local government “does work.”
The family said they requested two wellness checks for Nordquists with authorities. They also said Nordquist has expressed that he is at risk to local social services agencies.
“Sam might be alive today if he had been at work,” said his mother, Linda Nordquist, in tears.
After asking New York authorities for help, Nordquist’s mother went to the local police station on February 10th to submit a report of the missing person. Two days later, New York State Police issued an announcement about the loss of Nordquist, and his body was found on February 13th.
In response to criticism from the family, New York State Police said in a statement last month that they “were taking appropriate investigation measures.” The Ontario County Department of Social Services has not responded to multiple requests for comment in recent weeks.
When asked Wednesday whether the social services department was aware that Nordquists were being controlled by suspects, Walford declined to comment, as his family suggested.
