No indication trans man’s death was a hate crime, police say [Video]

NEW YORK — Editor’s note: The video above first aired Feb. 15, 2025.

After days of public speculation, authorities in New York said there is “no indication” the gruesome murder of a transgender man from Minnesota was committed as a hate crime.

“At this time we have no indication that Sam’s murder was a hate crime,” read an updated press release from New York State Police and the Ontario County District Attorney Monday.

“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 in the time period leading up to the instant offense.”

Police said they discovered that while Nordquist was in New York, he suffered months of torture and “prolonged physical and physiological …