New York State Police charged five people Friday with murder in the killing of a missing man who authorities said died following repeated acts of violence and torture for more than a month by multiple individuals who later discarded his body in a field.

A missing Minnesota transgender man was found dead in a field in New York after being reported missing. Authorities say he endured “prolonged physical and psychological abuse."

Major Kevin Sucher, commander of the state police troop, termed the case to “by far the worst” homicide investigation the office has ever conducted.