New York State Police: Minnesota man found dead after months of torture; 5 charged

Five people have been formally charged with second-degree murder after a Minnesota man was found dead in a field after he went missing, according to authorities in New York.

On Friday, officials with New York State Police announced the body of 24-year-old Sam Nordquist had been found, adding he had “endured prolonged physical and psychological abuse” and that they haven’t ruled out the potential of a hate crime.

According to police, Nordquist had arrived in New York state sometime in September and had been staying at Patty’s Lodge in Hopewell. A search warrant was executed on Feb. 13 as part of their investigation, where authorities say they found a “deeply disturbing pattern” of abuse.

Authorities say they believe Nordquist endured repeated acts of violence and torture from late December to sometime in February, adding his body had been moved in an attempt to “conceal crime.”