Ringleader in transgender man's murder gets life
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Precious Arzuaga got life without parole for Sam Nordquist's torture and murder.
The case centered on a 24-year-old transgender man killed in upstate New York.
Background
Sam Nordquist was a 24-year-old transgender man who was tortured and murdered in 2025 at an upstate New York motel, according to coverage of the case. Precious Arzuaga was identified as the ringleader and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in July. She and her ex-girlfriend Jennifer Quijano were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for their roles in the deadly month-long torture.
How it unfolded
- 2025Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man, was tortured and murdered over roughly a month at an upstate New York motel.
- Jul 2026Precious Arzuaga pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
- Sep 8, 2026Arzuaga and her ex-girlfriend Jennifer Quijano were sentenced to life in prison without parole in Ontario County Court; supporters of Nordquist applauded as the sentence was delivered.
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Some of Nordquist's supporters erupted in applause as the maximum sentence was handed down, and a spectator shouted 'F–k you. You're the devil' at Arzuaga, according to the New York Post.
- Court
- Judge Kristina Karle imposed the maximum punishment of life without parole, which some in the gallery praised.
Still unverified
The exact date of the original 2025 killing and the full sequence of events are not specified in the retrieved material; details of the torture were described only in general terms.