Two new arrests have been made in the death of Sam Nordquist.
State Police arrested 29-year-old Kimberly Sochia, of Canandaigua, and 21-year-old Thomas Eaves, of Geneva, on charges of second-degree murder, depraved indifference. Following their arrests Thursday night, Sochia and Eaves were sent to Ontario County Jail to await arraignment.
38-year-old Precious Arzguaga, of Canandaigua, 30-year-old Jennifer Quijano, of Geneva, 19-year-old Emily Motyka, of Lima, 30-year-old Patrick Goodwin, of Canandaigua, and 33-year-old Kyle Sage, of Rochester, were arrested last week on the same charge as Eaves and Sochia. Earlier this week, an Ontario County Grand Jury indicted the five on at least one felony charge that will be revealed at their next court appearance.
Nordquist, a 24-year-old Minnesota, traveled to the Finger Lakes last September and was reported missing earlier this month after his family hadn’t heard from him since New Year’s Day. A search warrant was executed on February 13th at room 22 at Patty’s Lodge in Hopewell where Nordquist was believed to have been staying. In announcing the initial five arrests last Friday, State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Captain Kelly Swift for Troop E said that they found a “deeply disturbing pattern of abuse that ultimately led to Sam’s death.”
“Based on evidence and witness statements, we have determined that Sam endured prolonged physical and psychological abuse at the hands of multiple individuals.”
Captain Swift said from December to this month, Nordquist was subject to repeated acts of violence and torture in a manner that ultimately led to his death. In an attempt to conceal his death, Nordquist’s body was placed in a field off of Payne Road, in Benton, Yates County.
“The facts and the circumstances of this crime are beyond depraved,” said Ontario County District Attorney Jim Ritts on February 14th. “By far, this is the worst homicide investigation this office has ever been a part of.”
Ritts added, “No human being should have to have endure what Sam endured.”
Nordquist was born female and identified as male. The Ontario County District Attorney’s Office issued a statement last Sunday stating that at this time there is no evidence to suggest that Nordquist’s murder was a hate crime.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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