A grand jury in Ontario County has indicted two additional suspects in the murder of 24-year-old Sam Nordquist, bringing the total number of individuals formally charged in the case to seven.
Ontario County District Attorney Jim Ritts confirmed Monday that the grand jury returned at least one felony charge against Kimberly Sochia, 29, of Canandaigua, and Thomas Eaves, 21, of Geneva. The indictment means their previously scheduled appearance in Hopewell Town Court on February 26 will no longer occur, and their case will proceed directly to Ontario County Court once the indictment is officially filed.
Sochia and Eaves were arrested last week and charged with second-degree murder under the depraved indifference statute, joining five others previously indicted in connection with Nordquist’s killing. Earlier this month, a grand jury also charged Kyle Sage, 33; Patrick Goodwin, 30; Emily Motyka, 19; Precious Arzuaga, 38; and Jennifer Quijano, 30 with similar offenses.
Nordquist, a transgender man from Minnesota, was reported missing on February 9. Authorities later found his remains in Yates County, and investigators believe he had endured months of physical and psychological abuse before being killed in Ontario County. His body was then moved in an attempt to cover up the crime.
District Attorney Ritts previously described the case as “beyond depraved,” emphasizing the prolonged suffering Nordquist endured before his death. While some advocates and community members have called for the crime to be classified as a hate crime due to Nordquist’s gender identity, law enforcement officials have stated that, based on available evidence, there is no indication of bias as a motive at this time.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has directed state agencies to support the ongoing investigation and assist Nordquist’s family and the affected community.
The investigation remains active, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact New York State Police.
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