
Two Women Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Torture and Murder of Sam Nordquist
On September 8, 2026, Ontario County Judge Kristina Karle sentenced Precious Arzuaga and Jennifer Quijano to life in prison without parole for the torture and murder of 24-year-old transgender man Sam Nordquist. Arzuaga, identified as the ringleader, pleaded guilty to 11 counts including first-degree murder and kidnapping. Quijano, described as the physical enforcer, also pleaded guilty to multiple charges. The case involves the prolonged abuse of Nordquist at a motel in Hopewell, New York, in early 2025, before his body was discarded in a field in Yates County. Five other suspects remain in the legal process, with trials scheduled for 2027.













