Arrest Breaks 19-Month Silence in Mercedes Vega Murder Case Linked to Charred Car

Mercedes Vega, a 22-year-old woman, was discovered deceased in a burning vehicle along the I-10 freeway near Tonopah in 2023.

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has announced an arrest related to Vega’s murder, which occurred more than a year ago.

Sencere Hayes, also 22, was apprehended in Tennessee on November 11. Authorities are now in the process of extraditing him to Arizona to face charges. Despite the arrest, MCSO confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing.

On April 16, 2023, Vega was last seen on surveillance footage leaving her Tempe apartment complex to meet friends, shortly before a series of events that led to her tragic demise.

MCSO later revealed that Vega had abruptly canceled her plans, indicating she was going to work. Her vehicle was subsequently found parked illegally, with the keys inside, near Culinary Dropout in Tempe. The grim discovery of her body followed; it was located in the backseat of a Chevrolet Malibu that was engulfed in flames.

A medical examination revealed that Vega had suffered extensive trauma, including a gunshot wound, signs of torture, and the presence of bleach in her system.

Records indicated that the Malibu did not belong to Vega; the car had a salvaged title and its previous owner was unaware it was linked to a murder investigation. In May, 911 calls related to the incident were reviewed, with witnesses reporting fire inside the vehicle before authorities arrived at the scene.

As first responders addressed the vehicle fire, they made the devastating discovery of Vega’s body, which was later confirmed through official identification.