PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Maricopa County prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty in the murder of a Tempe woman who was burned alive in a car two years ago.
Earlier this week, the state filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Sencere Patrick Hayes if he’s convicted of first-degree murder of Mercedes Vega.
Prosecutors noted aggravating factors that justify the death penalty, specifically that Hayes allegedly killed Vega to prevent her from testifying against another man in a robbery investigation. The notice states that the murder happened “to prevent Vega’s cooperation with an official law enforcement investigation, to prevent her testimony in a court proceeding, or in retaliation for her cooperation with an official law enforcement investigation.”…