On September 8, 2026, an Ontario County judge sentenced two New York women to life in prison without the possibility of parole for their roles in the torture and murder of 24-year-old Sam Nordquist. Precious Arzuaga and Jennifer "Brooklyn" Quijano both received the maximum possible sentences after admitting to the horrific abuse and killing of the Minnesota man in early 2025.
Arzuaga, characterized by prosecutors as the "ring leader" of the group, pleaded guilty in June to all ten charges she faced. These charges included first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, coercion, and concealment of a human corpse. Quijano faced a similar set of charges, including murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
The tragic sequence of events began in the summer of 2024, when Arzuaga met Nordquist, a transgender man from Minnesota, on the social media platform TikTok. The two entered into a romantic relationship, which prompted Nordquist to fly to the Canandaigua area of New York. His family believed he was embarking on a simple two-week vacation. Instead, Nordquist became trapped in a nightmare.
According to court records, Arzuaga and Quijano, alongside five other defendants, tortured Nordquist to death between January 1 and February 1, 2025. The abuse took place inside room 22 of Patty's Lodge in Hopewell, New York. After Nordquist died, the group disposed of his body in a field located in Yates County.
During Arzuaga's sentencing on Tuesday, Ontario County Judge Kristina Karle addressed the defendant directly, highlighting the tragedy of the situation. "Sam came here looking for love, and sadly and tragically he found you," Judge Karle said.
Linda Nordquist, Sam's mother, delivered a powerful victim impact statement during the hearing. Addressing Arzuaga, she said, "Precious, you may have believed you had the power to decide how my son's story would end, but you did not." She described her son as a kind, gentle, loving, and trusting individual who saw the best in others.
Ontario County First Assistant District Attorney James Nobles emphasized Arzuaga's central role in the conspiracy, telling the court that she was at the very center of the group responsible for Nordquist's death. When given the opportunity to speak, Arzuaga offered an apology to the victim's family. "What was stated previously by the family was true," Arzuaga said. "Sam really did love me and my kids, and I'm willing to accept whatever punishment you are to give me." Her statement prompted audible laughter from those gathered in the courtroom.
Judge Karle noted that Arzuaga had a documented history of domestic incident reports involving previous romantic partners, which revealed a clear pattern of behavior. "When I was reading these reports, I was wondering why someone so good was taken tragically," the judge remarked to Arzuaga. "Was it because Sam was everything you are not and would never be," Karle asked. Courtroom attendees applauded as Arzuaga was escorted out of the room.
Later in the day, the court turned its attention to Quijano. Ontario County Assistant District Attorney Sara Van Strydonck explained that Quijano's motive was rooted in jealousy. Van Strydonck revealed that Arzuaga and Quijano had previously been romantically involved, to the extent that Quijano referred to Arzuaga as her "baby moms" and Arzuaga called Quijano her "baby dads." While Arzuaga acted as the mastermind pulling the strings, Quijano served as "the muscle behind it," prosecutors said.
The prosecution presented photo and video evidence showing Quijano and the six other defendants pinning Nordquist between chairs in a corner of the motel room at Patty's Lodge while berating him. Van Strydonck also detailed how Nordquist was forced into a dog cage on multiple occasions, during which Quijano referred to him as a "two-legged dog."
Kayla Nordquist, Sam's sister, delivered an emotional impact statement directed at Quijano, questioning the choices made by those in the room. "There are moments when I catch myself wondering if just one person had chosen differently, would my brother still be here," she said. "If one person said this is wrong. If one person helped him escape. If one person treated him as a human instead of an object that could be controlled."
Quijano's defense attorney, Neil Gunther, argued that his client was also a victim, claiming that Arzuaga had physically and mentally abused Quijano for years. He maintained that Quijano took full responsibility for her actions. Quijano's lawyers read a written statement from her aloud: "When I was in court last time, I could hear Sam's family crying, and I want them to know that I could feel that. I'm sorry I hurt Sam, and I'm sorry I didn't help Sam."
Judge Karle acknowledged the defense's argument but ultimately rejected the notion that Quijano was merely a victim. The judge stated that such an argument might have carried weight had Quijano not actively participated in "these cruel, torturous, horrific, dehumanizing actions toward Sam." With tears in her eyes, Judge Karle said, "Calling a human being a two-legged dog and caging them. That is not someone who is a bystander caught in the web of Precious Arzuaga."
Arzuaga and Quijano are the first of the seven defendants to be sentenced. Two other defendants, Emily Motyka and Kyle Sage, have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the crime. Sage is scheduled to be sentenced in December, while Motyka's sentencing date has not yet been set. The remaining three defendants—Thomas Eaves, Kimberly Sochia, and Patrick Goodwin—are currently awaiting trial, which is scheduled to begin in January 2027.
