Investigation Deepens: Links Emerge Between Murder and Robbery Suspects in Tempe Woman’s Death

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is investigating a murder case believed to be linked to other criminal activities involving multiple agencies.

Newly released search warrant records reveal connections between the man charged with murdering 22-year-old Mercedes Vega and a separate robbery case. Vega was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered in April 2023, and her case remained unsolved until November 2024.

Sencere Hayes, 22, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, was arrested in connection to Vega’s murder after his fingerprints matched evidence collected by MCSO. He was apprehended on unrelated charges that preceded his identification as a suspect.

Search warrants indicate that Hayes likely did not act alone. Investigators sought information from American Airlines to trace Hayes’s travel from Tennessee to Arizona. Records show his flight was booked using a credit card belonging to Cudjoe Young, a person who had previously faced robbery charges involving Vega.

Young was allegedly involved in a gunpoint robbery of Vega in 2020 and was scheduled to face trial when Vega was killed; he is currently not charged in her murder. While he wore an ankle monitor during the incident, detectives confirmed he was not near the crime scene.

The timeline unfolds with significant details. In early March 2023, flights for Hayes were purchased, and on March 17, a Chevrolet Malibu was bought through a fake OfferUp account. This vehicle was later discovered burned with Vega’s body inside.

Surveillance footage from the night of April 16, 2023, captured Vega walking to her car around 9:15 p.m., marking her last known sighting. Her blood was found in both the parking area and within the Malibu, indicating a violent abduction had taken place.

Shortly after, the Malibu was seen exiting the garage alongside Vega’s car. By 9:25 p.m., Vega’s vehicle was abandoned nearby, while the Malibu fled the vicinity. Hours later, the Malibu was discovered engulfed in flames alongside Vega’s remains, accompanied by suspicious items like bleach and gloves.

Critical evidence emerged from a fingerprint found on a blood-stained grocery bag. Initial database searches yielded no matches, but when Hayes’s fingerprints were taken during his arrest, they matched the evidence from Vega’s case.

MCSO’s ongoing investigation is multifaceted and complex, with officials confirming that further leads are being pursued. A spokesperson stated, “MCSO is still actively and intently investigating the death of Mercedes Vega, and additional information will be disclosed as the investigation unfolds.”

Hayes recently appeared in court, with another hearing set for April 15. Vega’s parents are advocating for public support and preparing to establish a memorial at the site where their daughter was found. The deadline for prosecutors to decide on pursuing the death penalty for Hayes has been extended to May 14.