Trans man killed in alleged hate crime

A 24-year-old trans man, Sam Nordquist has been killed in New York State after being tortured for over a month from early December to February.  

Kelly Swift, Captain of the New York State Police Troop E’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said at a news conference that Nordquist was “subjected to repeated acts of violence and torture in a manner that ultimately led to his death.”   

Nordquist’s body was found in a field in the town of Benton on the 13th of February, which was 32 kilometres from where he was supposedly staying. 

Investigators reported that they had found a “a deeply disturbing pattern of abuse” and proceeded to arrest five people.  

Nordquist was believed to be living with one or more of his assailants in a motel called Patty’s Lodge in Canandaigua.  

Seven people have since been charged 1st degree murder, other charges include endangering the welfare of a child, with one defendant specifically facing two counts of first-degree coercion for allegedly forcing two children aged 7 and 12 to participate in Nordquist's alleged torture. 

Swift goes on to say, “In my 20-year law enforcement career, this is one of the most horrific crimes I have ever investigated.” 

Rochester LGBTQ+ Together, a community advocacy group, posted on social media that it was “truly angered and disgusted” to hear the details of the crime and goes on to say there is an “epidemic of violence” against transgender people across the US. 

New York State police who are investigating the crime have said that there is “no indication” his death was a hate crime.