A suspect has been arrested in connection to the murder of Mercedes Vega, 22, who was found dead in a burning car on the side of an Arizona highway in April 2023.
On Nov. 11, 22-year-old Sencere Hayes was arrested in Tennessee in connection to Vega’s death, a spokesperson for the Maricopa Sheriff’s Office told ABC News.
Hayes is facing a first-degree murder charge, “among other charges,” the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office told ABC News.
The sheriff’s office said they are working with the attorney’s office to extradite Hayes back to Arizona.
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The sheriff’s office said that they have been “working tirelessly” to investigate the case, which has been under investigation as a homicide.
An autopsy of Vega showed she had blunt force injuries and a gunshot wound to the arm, according to Arizona ABC affiliate KNXV , and that bleach was found in her throat.