YATES COUNTY, N.Y. — The family of Sam Nordquist, the transgender man who was tortured and murdered in Ontario County, is speaking out against what they’re calling pure evil.

Five people are charged with Sam’s murder after New York State Police found that the 24-year-old endured “prolonged physical and psychological abuse.” The family says that Sam, from Minnesota, traveled to the Finger Lakes region on Sept. 28 to meet his girlfriend, Precious Aruzuage, whom he connected with online. Precious, 38, of Canandaigua, is among those charged with murder.

Kayla Nordquist, Sam’s older sister, expressed her concerns from the start.

“I had a bad feeling from the start it wasn’t going to end well,” she said. “He thought he was in love with this woman and he thought that this woman loved him back.”

Linda Nordquist, Sam’s mother, is devastated by the loss.

“How could somebody be so mean—especially when you are a mother yourself,” she said. “How can you be that evil?”

Sam was supposed to return home on Oct. 12, but when his sister didn’t hear from him, she became worried. She requested a wellness check, and the officer went to the Ontario County motel where Sam was staying. The officer reported that Sam appeared to be fine, though Precious was “fired up.” Kayla noted that Sam seemed scared in a video where Precious had her arm around him.

“You could tell in his face that he didn’t want to be there,” she said.

Despite repeated calls and messages, Sam did not respond. On New Year’s Day, Kayla briefly spoke to Sam, who said, “I love you, I’ll call you tomorrow,” but she never heard from him again.

Sam’s family is determined to uncover the truth and find justice for him. They describe him as someone who enjoyed making people laugh and are angered by what happened to him.

Sam’s mother said she doesn’t understand how someone could be so evil. “They’re not human, they’re pure evil,” Linda said.

Efforts to find for Sam

Nordquist’s family reported him missing on Feb. 9 after they lost contact with him. His mother Linda recalls a time back in December when she says Sam went to DSS with Precious. She later received an email from DSS about Sam wanting to come home.

“I called right away. She said that Sam was supposed to meet back, and Sam never showed up. And they were going to have an escape plan – call Sam to get out,” Linda said.

But Linda says she never heard back from DSS. Linda filed a report with her local police department in Minnesota and they put out a national missing persons alert.

Kayla took more action, posting a missing person flyer of Sam online and sending it to several media outlets. A few days later, the family found out Thursday, Feb. 13 that a body had been found in a field in Yates County.

“But they couldn’t confirm it was Sam until they got more information. And we didn’t know it for a fact,” Sam’s sister Kayla said.

Friday afternoon’s press conference confirmed their worst fears, while they were in the car driving to Upstate New York.

“I don’t know what to think—I’m just numb –and I cried and cried when Sam left for months,” his mother Linda said.

The family believes this was a hate crime. “Plus Sam was Black. That makes it even harder—you have two strikes – and you have two things people hate on and it’s a shame,” Linda said.

Vigil in memory of Sam

A vigil on Monday and Tuesday will honor the memory of Sam Nordquist. Monday’s vigil will take place at Wood Library on North Main Street in Canandaigua. Tuesday’s vigil will take place at The Presbyterian Church on Park Place in Geneva. Both will run from 6 to 8 p.m. The community is invited to attend to show their support.

Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes, the organizer of Monday’s vigil, said the event aims to show support for Nordquist’s family and to stand up to violence. 

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