Up to date Sept. 9, 2026, 8:40 p.m. ET
A New York decide sentenced two girls who admitted to torturing and murdering 24-year-old Sam Nordquist in 2025 to life in jail with out the opportunity of parole.
Valuable Arzuaga and Jennifer “Brooklyn” Quijano each acquired the utmost sentence on Sept. 8 for his or her roles in Nordquist’s dying.
Arzuaga, whom prosecutors have known as the “ring chief” within the case, pleaded responsible to all 10 costs she confronted in June, together with first-degree homicide, kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, coercion and concealment of a human corpse. Quijano confronted most of the similar costs, together with homicide, kidnapping and conspiracy.
Prosecutors have stated Arzuaga met Nordquist, a transgender man from Minnesota, on TikTok in the summertime of 2024. The 2 started a romantic relationship, and Nordquist flew to the Canandaigua space of New York state to stick with Arzuaga for what his household believed was alleged to be a two-week trip.
Arzuaga and Quijano admitted to torturing Nordquist to dying between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1, 2025, together with 5 different defendants in room 22 of Patty’s Lodge in Hopewell, New York, earlier than disposing of his physique in a discipline in Yates County.
“Sam got here right here in search of love, and sadly and tragically he discovered you,” Ontario County Choose Kristina Karle advised Arzuaga throughout her sentencing.
Here is what to know.
Valuable Arzuaga sentenced to life in jail
‘Sam can by no means go away New York alive’
Linda Nordquist, Sam Nordquist’s mom, offered her sufferer affect assertion to the court docket throughout Arzuaga’s sentencing.
“Valuable, you might have believed you had the ability to determine how my son’s story would finish, however you didn’t,” she stated. She advised the court docket that her son was type, light, loving and trusting of others.
Ontario County First Assistant District Legal professional James Nobles advised the court docket that Arzuaga was on the heart of the group accused of torturing Nordquist to dying.
“I’ve no query in my thoughts that with out her, Sam can be right here right now,” Nobles advised Karle in the course of the sentencing listening to. He stated her responsible plea saved the neighborhood and Sam’s household from the wicked proof and info of the case, together with a textual content she despatched to her coconspirators: “Sam can by no means go away New York alive.”
Arzuaga then took her probability to talk, apologizing to Sam Nordquist’s household.
“What was acknowledged beforehand by the household was true. Sam actually did love me and my children, and I am prepared to just accept no matter punishment you’re to present me,” Arzuaga stated as folks within the courtroom audibly laughed at her apology.
Karle stated Arzuaga’s historical past of home incident studies with earlier romantic companions confirmed a sample of her habits.
“After I was studying these studies, I used to be questioning why somebody so good was taken tragically. Was it as a result of Sam was all the pieces you aren’t and would by no means be,” Karle requested Arzuaga.
The courtroom full of applause as Arzuaga was taken out of the courtroom.
Jennifer Quijano named ‘the muscle’ behind the crime
Ontario County Assistant District Legal professional Sara Van Strydonck advised the court docket Tuesday that Quijano’s motive in Nordquist’s torture and killing was easy and customary: jealousy.
Van Strydonck stated Arzuaga and Quijano have been as soon as romantically concerned, to the purpose the place Quijano known as Arzuaga her “child mothers” and Arzuaga known as her “child dads.” Arzuaga, she stated, was the one pulling the strings throughout the group, whereas Quijano was “the muscle behind it.”
She defined that picture and video proof within the case reveals Quijano and the six different defendants pinning Nordquist between chairs within the nook of the room at Patty’s Lodge whereas they berated him.
Nordquist was additionally pressured right into a canine cage on a number of events, and Quijano would seek advice from him as a “two-legged canine,” Van Strydonck stated.
Kayla Nordquist, Sam Nordquist’s sister, gave her affect assertion, telling Quijano that she repeatedly made decisions that finally led to Sam’s dying.
“There are moments after I catch myself questioning if only one individual had chosen in a different way, would my brother nonetheless be right here,” she stated. “If one individual stated that is incorrect. If one individual helped him escape. If one individual handled him as a human as a substitute of an object that might be managed.”
Quijano’s lawyer, Neil Gunther, advised Karle that Quijano was additionally a sufferer of Arzuaga. He defined that Arzuaga bodily and mentally abused Quijano for years, and that Quijano takes accountability for her actions.
“After I was in court docket final time, I might hear Sam’s household crying, and I would like them to know that I might really feel that,” Quijano stated in a written assertion her legal professionals learn aloud in court docket. “I am sorry I damage Sam, and I am sorry I did not assist Sam.”
Karle stated she appreciated what Gunther stated and that it may need made sense that Quijano was additionally a sufferer of Arzuaga if she did not take part in “these merciless, torturous, horrific, dehumanizing actions towards Sam.”
She stated Quijano might have been a savior to Nordquist, however as a substitute she participated in his torture and loved it.
“Calling a human being a two-legged canine and caging them,” Karle stated with tears in her eyes. “That isn’t somebody who’s a bystander caught within the internet of Valuable Arzuaga.”
What’s subsequent?
Quijano and Arzuaga are the one two defendants who’ve been sentenced to this point.
Emily Motyka and Kyle Sage have pleaded responsible to their roles in Nordquist’s dying. Sage’s sentencing is scheduled for December, however Motyka’s sentencing has not but been scheduled.
Thomas Eaves, Kimberly Sochia and Patrick Goodwin are awaiting trial. Their trials are scheduled to begin in January 2027.
Madison Scott is a New York Join reporter, overlaying leisure, breaking and client information, and trending matters with a concentrate on tales that matter to readers throughout New York.
Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY
