The Ontario County District Attorney’s Office issued a statement on Sunday confirming that, at this time, there is no evidence to suggest that Sam Nordquist’s murder was a hate crime.
The statement noted that Sam and his attackers were familiar with each other, identified as LGBTQ+, and that at least one of the defendants had lived with Sam in Canandaigua in the time leading up to the crime. Sam, a transgender man, was reported missing by his family last Sunday and was found dead in Yates County last Wednesday.
The statement, which was released in conjunction with State Police, went on to explain how a Hate Crime is defined under New York State law:
There have been many questions as to whether Sam’s murder was a hate crime. A “hate crime” in New York is defined in Penal Law Sect. 485.05, as an offense committed “in whole or insubstantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct.”We are still in the early stages of this investigation. While significant evidence has been obtained, we are continuing to follow up on leads brought to the State Police. We urge the community not to speculate on the motive behind the murder as we work to find justice for Sam. At this time we have no indication that Sam’s murder was a hate crime. To help alleviate the understandable concern his murder could be a hate crime, we are disclosing that Sam and his assailants were known to each other, identified as LGBTQ+, and at least one of the defendants lived with Sam in the time period leading up to the instant offense…”
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, have each been charged with second-degree murder, depraved indifference.
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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