2 women sentenced to life without parole for murder of transgender man Sam Nordquist
The two women at the center of the death of Sam Nordquist, the transgender man who was tortured and killed in Ontario County, New York, in 2025, were sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder on Tuesday.
Judge Kristina Karle sentenced Precious Arzuaga, identified by prosecutors as the ringleader in the case, to the maximum penalty on all 11 counts to which she pleaded guilty. Arzuaga, 40, pled guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, concealment of a human corpse, conspiracy, coercion and endangering the welfare of a child.
The judge gave Jennifer Quijano, 32, life in prison without parole for first degree murder, 25 years to life for kidnapping, an initiated sentence of eight and 1/3 to 25 years for conspiracy in the second degree, 25 years for aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree, one to four years for concealment of a human corpse, and 364 days for endangering the welfare of a child. She had pleaded guilty to all counts.
"We all want to know why someone so good was taken so tragically," Karle said before handing down her sentence to Arzuaga. "Was it because Sam was everything you were not, and will never be? Did you look at him and hate him because of that kindness, compassion, empathy, hope?"
Arzuaga gave a short statement apologizing to the family of Nordquist in court before receiving her sentence.
"What was stated previously by the family was true -- Sam did love me and my kids, and I'm going to accept whatever punishment you are to give me in front of everyone," Arzuaga said to the judge.
Ontario County assistant district attorney Sara Van Strydonck called Quijano "the muscle" in the torture and killing of the 24-year-old Nordquist during the sentencing hearing. Van Strydonck said that Quijano was present for and participated in much of the beatings, sexual assaults, and mental torture of Nordquist. She also said Quijano assisted with the disposal of his corpse.
"I think the motive that we have here, why Jennifer Quijano wanted Sam dead is not unique -- a tale as old as time: It's jealousy," Van Strydonck said during sentencing, referencing Quijano's alleged envy over Nordquist's romantic relationship with Arzuaga, who was the ex-girlfriend of Quijano.
Quijano said during a statement through her attorney at the sentencing hearing that she wishes she could explain to Nordquist's family why she took part in the torture and killing of Nordquist, but she could not.
"I wish I could go back and do everything different, but I can't. All I can do now is take responsibility for my conduct," Quijano said. "I don't expect their [Nordquist's family's] forgiveness, nor would I ever ask for it, but I do hope that one day Sam's family will find peace."
Prosecutors said Arzuaga and Quijano coerced Arzuaga's two children, then aged 7 and 12, into participating in the horrific beating.
The other suspects who were arrested in February 2025 in connection with Nordquist's death include Kyle Sage, Patrick Goodwin, Emily Motyka, Kimberly Sochia and Thomas Eaves.
Sage and Motyka pled guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping in connection to Nordquist's death. Sage's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 2, according to the Ontario Supreme & Country Court in New York. Motyka's sentencing date has not been scheduled yet.
Trials for Goodwin, Sochia and Eaves are expected to take place next year. They have pleaded not guilty.
Nordquist's family filed a missing persons report with the New York State Police on Feb. 9, 2025, court documents show, after last hearing from Nordquist on Jan. 1, 2025.
Nordquist had left Minnesota on Sept. 28, 2024, with a round-trip plane ticket to New York. Nordquist met Arzuaga online, who convinced him to visit her, according to court documents.
The family claimed Nordquist was planning to fly back to Minnesota within two weeks, but never boarded his return flight, court documents show.
His remains were discovered on Feb. 12, 2025, in a field in Benton, New York, in Yates County, according to New York State Police investigators. Investigators believe Nordquist died at a motel in Hopewell, New York, after being beaten and tortured for days.
"How do you survive knowing your son was surrounded by people capable of such unimaginable cruelty?" Linda Nordquist, Sam Nordquist's mother, said during her testimony at the sentencing hearing on Tuesday. "The answer is you don't. You simply learn how to carry a grief so heavy it changes who you are forever."
ABC News' Sabina Ghebremedhin and Bill Hutchinson contributed to this story.
