Prosecutors revealed Sunday that there was “no signs” of the murder of Sam Nordquist, a transgender man from upstate New York.
Nordquist is said to have been tortured inside the motel for more than a month until he died, but the Ontario County District Attorney's Office and provincial police have said that some of the suspected PERPS are also members of the LGBTQ community.
“At this point there is no indication that Sam's murder is a hate crime,” the District Attorney's Office and New York State Police said in a statement. According to Spectrum News.
“To alleviate the understandable concern that his murder could be a hate crime, we have made it clear that Sam and his assailants are known to each other and identified as LGBTQ+. It's an immediate crime.”
Five people face murder charges, allegedly Nordquist was punched, kicked, beaten with a stick, a dog toy, a rope cane and a belt, and attacked with table legs and brooms. , according to court documents.
His body was later abandoned in an empty field in nearby Yates County, authorities said.
The 24-year-old victim faced “recurring and violent acts” that caused his death, New York State Police Captain Kelly Swift said at a press conference Friday.
Nordquist's family was the first to report that he was missing, when his body was found three days later, on February 9, prosecutors and police said in a statement Sunday.
“We are still in the early stages of this investigation,” two departments wrote.
“We have important evidence, but we continue to follow up on the leads brought to us by the state police. We urge our community not to speculate on Sam's motivations as a job to find justice. “We'll do that,” the district attorney said.
New York residents Precious Alzuaga, 38; Jennifer A. Kijano, 30; Kyle Sage, 33; Patrick A. Goodwin and Emily Motica, both 19 years old, charged with second-degree murder and while arrested. He was taken into custody without bail.
Hochul on Sunday called the Nordquist murder “terrifyingly brutal.”
“The accusations against these individuals are offensive and all New Yorkers need to join together to condemn this horrifying act. We experience Sam Nordquist's family, community and unimaginable sadness. I pray for the loved ones who are doing it,” the governor said.
“I have directed the state police to provide all the support and resources to the district attorney as we continue our investigation, including whether this is a hate crime.”
