In a small town in New York, a series of calls to law enforcement went unnoticed.  Patty’s Lodge, a hotel in Canandaigua, New York, was the scene of a horrifying crime.  A 24-year-old transgender Black man, Sam Nordquist, was tortured and killed in Room 22.  The police were called to the hotel eight times during his captivity, but they did not visit Room 22.

    Nordquist's family, living in Oakdale, Minnesota, were worried about their loved one.  They requested a wellness check in October and again in February.  The police confirmed the checks, but Nordquist insisted he was fine.  On February 13, his body was found in a nearby field, wrapped in plastic bags.  The police did not notice anything unusual during their visits.

    The hotel is small, with only about two dozen rooms.  The seven people accused of the crime are facing serious charges.  They are accused of kicking, punching, starving, and sexually assaulting Nordquist.  Two young children were also forced to participate.  The seven suspects, including Nordquist’s girlfriend, have all pleaded not guilty.  If convicted, they face life in prison without parole.

    The case has sparked national outrage and prompted LGBTQ advocates to call for justice.  The question remains: why were the calls to the police ignored?

    The police did not visit Room 22 during their eight visits to the hotel.  The calls were for various reasons, including welfare checks, family trouble, and a neighbor dispute.  None of the calls specifically mentioned Room 22.  The call records do not indicate which rooms the police visited.  It is unclear if anyone heard anything unusual.

    The hotel is on a small lot of land, with about two dozen rooms grouped by four one-story buildings.  Anyone on the property would be within several dozen feet of Room 22.  The case raises questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement in protecting vulnerable individuals.

    The family's requests for wellness checks were ignored.  The police did not notice anything unusual during their visits.  The case highlights the importance of taking all reports of abuse seriously.

A Tragic Case of Neglected Cries

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