Two younger kids, ages simply 7 and 12, had been compelled to assist beat and torture transgender man Sam Nordquist to loss of life in an upstate New York motel, prosecutors revealed in a disturbing replace Wednesday.
The 24-year-old sufferer had been sexually assaulted with a desk leg and broomstick, had bleach poured on him and was crushed with sticks canine toys, rope canes and belts within the weeks main as much as his loss of life on the Patty’s Lodge motel within the Finger Lakes area final month, court docket papers state.
It wasn’t instantly clear precisely how the youngsters — who haven’t been recognized — had been concerned in Nordquist’s torture, however prosecutors described it as one of many “most troubling parts” of the twisted case.
“To have two children have to participate in the beating of another human being, it’s deeply disturbing,” Ontario County Assistant District Legal professional Kelly Wolford advised a information convention.
“It has — I can speak for myself and everyone involved in this investigation — been one of the most troubling parts of this. It’s heartbreaking.”
The disturbing allegations had been laid naked as seven suspects had been indicted on first-degree homicide costs on Wednesday over Nordquist’s stunning loss of life on Feb. 2.
The suspects, who had beforehand been arrested for second-degree homicide, had been additionally accused of kidnapping and little one endangerment within the 11-count indictment.
Nordquist, a black man who initially hailed from Minnesota, was transgender — however authorities have stated they’ve no proof his loss of life was a hate crime.
Authorities stated a minimum of among the alleged assailants determine as LGBTQ+ and a minimum of one lived with Nordquist.
Regardless of not being labeled a hate crime, prosecutors stated Nordquist had been handled “like a dog” within the month earlier than his loss of life.
“Sam was beaten, assaulted, sexually abused, starved, held captive and we cannot make sense of that,” Wolford stated.
“We cannot put that on his gender, and we cannot put that on his race. And I know many will ask the question: Why? Well, as I stand here today as a human being, we’ll never know the answer why.”
Wolford revealed the highest cost in opposition to the alleged perps was being elevated to first-degree homicide as a result of Nordquist had been tortured.
One of many suspects, Valuable Arzuaga, had been charged with forcing the 2 children to participate within the alleged abuse.
The opposite six folks slapped with homicide costs embody: Patrick Goodwin, Kyle Sage, Jennifer Quijano, Emily Motyka, Kimberly Sochia and Thomas Eaves.
The 2 kids haven’t been recognized.
It comes after Nordquist — who had arrived in New York in September and had misplaced contact with family members this yr — was reported lacking on Feb. 9.
His physique was discovered wrapped in plastic and dumped in a subject a number of days later.
With Submit wires
