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Judge Sentences Ringleader in Sam Nordquist Murder to Life in Prison

Arzuaga admitted to torturing Nordquist for more than a month before his death, and prosecutors said seven people were charged in the case.

  • On Tuesday, Ontario County Court Judge Kristina Karle sentenced Precious Arzuaga and Jennifer Quijano to life without parole for murdering Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota.
  • Nordquist traveled to Hopewell in September 2024 believing Arzuaga was his girlfriend; authorities say she held him captive and tortured him from January 1 through February 2, 2025.
  • During sentencing, Linda and Kayla Nordquist delivered emotional victim-impact statements. Judge Karle remarked, "He came here looking for love, and sadly and tragically, he found you."
  • Including Arzuaga and Quijano, four of seven suspects have pleaded guilty; Patrick Goodwin, Kimberly Sochia, and Thomas Eaves await separate trials.
  • While prosecutors declined to pursue hate-crime charges, Captain Kelly Swift described the investigation as one of the most disturbing in her 20-year career.
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NBC News broke the news in New York, United States on Monday, September 7, 2026.
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