Ringleader in torture and killing of trans man Sam Nordquist pleads guilty

This story originally appeared on Them.

This story contains graphic details about the torture and violent murder of a Black transgender man.

Precious Arzuaga, a 38-year-old woman whom prosecutors say acted as the “ringleader” in the torture and violent murder of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old Black transgender man, pleaded guilty to all charges against her today, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual abuse.

In September 28, 2024, Nordquist traveled from his home state of Minnesota to Ontario County in upstate New York, where he planned to meet his online girlfriend Arzuaga, and return two weeks later. Linda Nordquist said her son never returned as planned. Instead, investigators say Nordquist was subjected to months of “depraved” torture by Arzuaga, her son, and a network of five friends and associates, ranging in age from 19 to 33 years old. Nordquist was found dead and wrapped in plastic in a field on February 13, 2025.

According to a grand jury indictment on March 5, 2025 that described graphic details about his death, the group allegedly spent weeks hitting Nordquist, beating him with objects, and sexually assaulting him, in addition to forcing him to consume urine and human feces. The charges Arzuaga pleaded guilty to in Ontario County Court include two counts of coercion in the first degree for forcing a seven-year-old and 12-year-old child to watch and participate in the torture.

Less than a week after local police began investigating the missing persons case requested by his family, Nordquist’s remains were found in Yates County. Ontario County District Attorney James Ritts called the case “by far the worst homicide investigation that our office has ever been part of” during a press conference immediately following the discovery of Nordquist’s body.

“No human being should have to endure what Sam endured,” Ritts said.

Arzuaga is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, likely to life in prison without parole, for charges of first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, concealment of a human corpse, kidnapping, conspiracy, coercion, and endangering the welfare of a child. According to William Smith, Arzuaga’s attorney, there was no plea deal offered in exchange; rather, he said “she accepted responsibility” in comments reported by WHAM.

Nordquist's sister Kayla, who travelled from Minnesota to be present for the trial, told the local ABC affiliate that being in court was “the most awful thing I ever had to do.” Despite Arzuaga’s guilty plea, Kayla says that she doesn’t believe the defendants were fully honest about the full extent of the crimes they committed against Nordquist.

“I don’t know why she all of a sudden feels guilty,” Kayla Nordquist told the station. “She wasn't guilty when she was raping him and beating him and starving him. She didn’t feel guilty then. I don’t believe she feels guilty now.”

“I loved him, and I still love him. He mattered and he still matters,” she continued. “I want the world to know Sam Nordquist’s name. He was a genuinely good person and he did not deserve this.”