An Ontario County judge has ordered a mother and son charged in the death of Sam Nordquist to provide DNA samples to investigators.
Spectrum News in Rochester reports that in court on Wednesday, Judge Kristina Karle directed that swabs be collected from Precious Arzuaga and her son, Thomas Eaves. They are among seven people facing murder charges for allegedly torturing and killing Nordquist earlier this year in the town of Hopewell.
Prosecutors say Nordquist, a Black transgender man from Minnesota, moved to New York in September 2024 and had been staying at Patty’s Lodge in Hopewell, where at least one suspect also lived. Authorities said Nordquist came to New York voluntarily but was held captive between January 1 and February 2, enduring repeated violence and torture that ultimately led to his death.
Nordquist was reported missing on February 9. His body was later found in a field in Benton in Yates County. While officials have emphasized there is no evidence of a hate crime, they described the case as one of prolonged and brutal abuse.
The five other defendants charged in the case are scheduled to appear in court later this month.
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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