Continuing developments in the 2023 murder of Mercedes Vega have led to new charges being filed against two additional suspects, increasing the number of those implicated in the tragic incident. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has announced that conspiracy to commit first-degree murder charges are being submitted against Cudjoe Young, and first-degree murder charges against Jared Gray. Vega’s remains were discovered inside a burning Chevrolet Malibu along Interstate 10 near Tonopah, and the medical examiner determined she died from smoke inhalation after being shot and having bleach forced into her throat.
New evidence has surfaced in court documents, revealing the implication of Gray in the crime scene, along with Sencere Hayes who is already in custody and facing the death penalty if convicted. OnStar data from the burned Malibu has placed the car at Vega’s apartment garage on the day she was murdered, and, both vehicles were seen on a nearby restaurant’s surveillance footage. Court documents obtained by ABC15 reveal that DNA evidence inside Vega’s abandoned car matched Hayes, and mobile phone records traced the suspects following the same path as the Malibu on the day Vega was killed.
Additionally, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating Young’s role in the incident as he had allegedly arranged for airline tickets for Hayes and Gray from Tennessee to Phoenix. Gray’s fingerprints were reported to be on a cup found in the Malibu, placing him at the scene, and despite his previous claim of traveling to Arizona on business, he denied knowing Hayes or Young. Meanwhile, Hayes has acknowledged knowing Young from their time in Tennessee…