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Maricopa County Sheriff's Office arrests another man in killing of Mercedes Vega

Phoenix, AZLocal News

Jared Gray, 25, was arrested in Georgia for the 2023 murder of Mercedes Vega, whose body was discovered in a burned vehicle. His fingerprint was found on a cup inside the car, linking him to the crime scene. Sencere Hayes, 22, was arrested in Tennessee in 2024 after his fingerprint matched one found on a bloody grocery bag in Vega's vehicle. Both men face first-degree murder charges, with Hayes also charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, and car theft. Investigators connected Cudjoe Young, a suspect in a previous robbery of Vega, to the murder, indicating that he may have sought to silence her testimony.

Surveillance footage showed Vega and the suspects' vehicle at her apartment complex shortly before her disappearance. The Sheriff's Office has recommended conspiracy charges against Young, with prosecutors still reviewing the case. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about violence against women and the judicial process in cases involving potential witnesses.

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