A suspect is in custody for the brutal murder of an exotic dancer, who was found dying inside a burning car in Arizona, according to police.
The charred remains of Mercedes Vega were discovered on April 17, 2023, in the back seat of a Chevy Malibu, which was parked on the shoulder of Interstate 10 near Tonopah, about 50 miles west of Phoenix.
The local medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, stating that the cause of death was the burns she sustained in the vehicle, along with smoke inhalation.
A coroner’s report revealed that the 22-year-old dancer and aspiring personal trainer also suffered blunt force trauma and gunshot wounds that contributed to her death.
Her parents, Erika and Tom Pillsbury, believe their daughter was abducted from the parking garage of her apartment in Tempe after a night out with friends.
They pointed out that she drove a Dodge Charger, which is different from the vehicle she was found in.
Police reported that Vega’s car was discovered abandoned a few miles from her home, and her family mentioned that her parking spot was stained with blood.
Vega’s violent death initiated an investigation that yielded few answers for months, but on Monday, the sheriff’s office announced they had made a breakthrough in the case and arrested a suspect.
Sencere Hayes, 22, was taken into custody on November 11 in Tennessee in connection with Vega’s death, according to a statement from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
He is currently awaiting extradition to Arizona, although the specific charges he faces remain unclear.
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