The petition asks that authorities change the charge to first-degree murder and that violence against the transgender community have harsher consequences.

Five people were charged with second-degree murder last week in the death of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man whose body was found discarded in a field this month. Authorities say Nordquist died following repeated acts of violence and torture for more than a month by multiple people.

Authorities say Nordquist died following repeated acts of violence and torture for more than a month by multiple people.

Two more people have been charged with murder in the death of a transgender man who authorities say was tortured for more than a month before being killed in upstate New York. New York State Police said they arrested Kimberly Sochia,