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A transgender man who was discovered wrapped in plastic and dumped in a discipline in upstate New York in early February was tortured and sexually assaulted for a month earlier than he was murdered, authorities revealed in new court docket paperwork.
Seven folks have been accused of killing 24-year-old Sam Nordquist, a Black man from Minnesota, however first they allegedly subjected him to a month-long torture marketing campaign during which they handled him “like a canine,” compelled him to eat feces, drink urine and poured bleach on him, prosecutors stated.
The horrifying allegations have been revealed in an indictment Wednesday that outlined first-degree homicide expenses towards the seven suspects.
“He was compelled to kneel and stand towards a wall,” Assistant District Legal professional Kelly Wolford stated. “He was bodily assaulted. He was sexually assaulted. He was prevented from utilizing his telephone. He was denied correct vitamin and hydration. He was fed feces. He was compelled to drink urine and chew spit.”
Wolford continued: “They bodily restrained him. They compelled him to obey their instructions, treating him like a canine. They lined his face with towels and shirts and cloth. They used duct tape they usually poured bleach on him.”
Nordquist was reported lacking on February 9, simply months after he arrived in New York from Minnesota. His mom has informed Syracuse.com that he left Minnesota for New York in September to satisfy a lady he had change into romantically concerned with after connecting on-line.
Linda Nordquist stated her son was alleged to fly dwelling in October however determined to remain longer to work on the connection.
Police stated he had misplaced contact with family members this yr.
In keeping with the indictment, the suspects tortured and beat Nordquist between January 1 and February 2 earlier than they dumped his physique in a discipline in Yates County within the Finger Lakes area. His physique was discovered on February 13.
Seven folks have been indicted for Nordquist’s loss of life, together with Treasured Arzuaga, 38, Kyle Sage, 33, Patrick Goodwin, 30, Emily Motyka, 19, Jennifer Quijano, 30, Kimberly Sochia, 29, and Thomas Eaves, 21.
The preliminary arrests have been made after police searched a room on the Patty’s Lodge motel in Canandaigua, New York, the final place Nordquist was identified to be staying.
All seven have been indicted on expenses of first-degree homicide, second-degree homicide, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a kid.
Arzuaga, Quijano, Sage and Goodwin are additionally charged with first-degree aggravated sexual abuse.
Arzuaga is charged with two counts of first-degree coercion as a result of, in accordance with the indictment, she “compelled or induced” two kids — ages 7 and 12 — to “trigger or try and trigger bodily damage” to Nordquist.
All suspects besides Eaves have additionally been charged with concealment of a human corpse.
Regardless of Nordquist being a Black Transgender man, Wolford stated hate crime expenses won’t be filed.
“A hate crime would make this cost about Sam’s gender or about Sam’s race, and it is a lot larger,” she stated. “To restrict us to a hate crime can be an injustice to Sam.”
“Sam was crushed, assaulted, sexually abused, starved, held captive and we can not make sense of that,” Wolford added.
“We can not put that on his gender, and we can not put that on his race. And I do know many will ask the query: Why? Properly, as I stand right here immediately as a human being, we’ll by no means know the reply why.
“As a result of what human being may do what occurred to Sam? We’ll by no means make sense of this case.”
Wolford stated the first-degree homicide expenses are probably the most important penalty beneath New York state regulation – and that the cost requires the prosecution to show that the suspects tortured Nordquist as a result of they loved it.
No arraignment date has been set.
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