A person accused within the armed theft of an unique dancer in Arizona 5 years in the past has been charged with homicide, kidnapping and different crimes in her horrific 2023 killing, courtroom data obtained Tuesday present.
Cudjoe Younger, 29, was indicted on fees of first-degree homicide, kidnapping, arson, theft and armed theft with a lethal weapon within the killing of Mercedes Vega on April 16, 2023, a replica of the indictment exhibits.
A second suspect, Sencere Hayes, was charged with Vega’s homicide final 12 months and indicted Thursday on the identical fees as Younger, in addition to hindering prosecution, based on the indictment.
Their arraignments are scheduled for Friday.
Hayes is being held in lieu of $4 million bond, jail data present. Younger is being held with out bond in reference to a separate case, based on the data.
Attorneys for Hayes and Younger didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Legal professional’s Workplace mentioned the costs linked to Vega stay open and declined additional remark.
A 3rd suspect, Jared Grey, was beforehand charged with homicide within the case and was awaiting extradition to Arizona from Georgia, the place he was held on unrelated fees. Jail data reviewed Tuesday confirmed that he didn’t look like in custody in Maricopa County.
Authorities say Vega, 22, was kidnapped from her condo constructing’s parking storage on the evening of April 16. Her automotive — a Dodge Charger — was later discovered deserted close by, and he or she was discovered crushed, shot and burned within the again seat of a Chevrolet Malibu on an interstate east of Phoenix earlier than daybreak on April 17.
Bleach had been poured down her throat, authorities have mentioned.
Vega’s household lengthy believed her demise was linked to an armed theft at her Phoenix condo constructing on Oct. 12, 2020, when a masked assailant robbed her at gunpoint after she completed a shift at a Phoenix strip membership.
Younger was charged with armed theft after Vega recognized him as a suspect, police data present, and her mom has mentioned she was scheduled to testify in that case on the day she was discovered lifeless.
Two different girls who labored on the similar membership as Younger have been focused in related crimes by a person who matched Younger’s description, authorities have mentioned. He was charged with tried theft in one of many instances. Younger has pleaded not responsible.
No arrests have been made within the third case.
Younger’s trial within the theft and tried theft have been scheduled to start Tuesday, however he sought to have his legal professional eliminated and is now representing himself, his former lawyer mentioned.
That legal professional, Burges McCowan, mentioned in an e mail that he’ll stay on the case as Younger’s advisory counsel.
McCowan declined to touch upon the allegations.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Workplace, which investigated the case, beforehand sought conspiracy fees associated to Vega’s homicide and kidnapping. A possible trigger assertion filed final month, alleges Younger paid two folks to select up the Malibu that Vega’s physique was present in after it was purchased by way of a web based vendor in March.
Authorities steered that he might have additionally purchased his co-defendants’ airplane tickets from Tennessee to Arizona.
A fingerprint discovered on a grocery bag in Vega’s automotive was that of Hayes, and a print of Grey’s was found on a plastic cup within the Malibu, based on the assertion.
