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Five people in New York face murder charges in the killing of a transgender man from Minnesota. To mourn his loss, a group of about 100 people gathered in below zero temperatures Monday on the steps of the state Capitol in St. Paul.

Attendees said they wanted justice for Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old from Oakdale, who had traveled to upstate New York in September to meet an online girlfriend.

Susan Montgomery handed out pink paper hearts and hand warmers, as she cried, “Justice for Sam.” People carried signs with photos of their friend.

Authorities in New York began searching for Nordquist after he was reported missing Feb. 9. They found remains identified as his in a field last week. A statement Sunday from the New York State Police and the Ontario County District Attorney’s Office said Nordquist endured acts of violence and torture for more than a month by multiple people. After he was killed, they allegedly dumped his body in another county.

Authorities said they do not regard the case as a hate crime at this time, but the investigation continues.

Prosecutors charged five people, all of whom lived in or south of Rochester, in the Finger Lakes region of New York: Precious Arzuaga, 38, Patrick Goodwin, 30, Kyle Sage, 33, Jennifer Quijano, 30, and Emily Motyka, 19.

“To help alleviate the understandable concern his murder could be a hate crime, we are disclosing that Sam and his assailants were known to each other, identified as LGBTQ+, and at least one of the defendants lived with Sam,” the state police and district attorney’s statement said.

Matt Partlow worked with Nordquist at a group home and called him a beautiful human being. He said Nordquist loved Puma sweatsuits and TikTok.

“We got really close working together, he was such an amazing friend, full of life,” said Partlow, turning emotional. “There is nobody like him and he didn’t deserve none of this. All he wanted was love. It’s all he wanted.”

Partlow said he texted Nordquist while he was in New York. He remembered how the two shared a love of cooking and compared recipes.

“I actually have a text message I was looking at the other day that he sent me because he told me he had a dream about a certain meal, and he told me we should make it. We did end up making it.”

Rose Ryan said she has been close with the family for 28 years.

“I still can’t comprehend the cruelty that we have in this world that we live in,” she said. “It breaks my heart that people can be so evil. I just want justice for him.”

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Five people in New York face murder charges in the killing of Nordquist, a transgender man from Minnesota. To mourn his loss, a group of about 100 people gathered in below zero temperatures Monday on the steps of the state Capitol in St. Paul.

St. Paul vigil remembers Sam Nordquist, calls for justice after his killing in New York

Ben Hovland | MPR News

People gather for a vigil on the Capitol steps

New York State Police | AP

A person holds a sign reading "#justiceforsam"

St. Paul vigil remembers Sam Nordquist, calls for justice after his killing in New York

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