Prosecutors pursue capital punishment for 2 men charged with killing Arizona woman

Authorities are seeking the death penalty for two men accused of abducting and killing a young Arizona woman in 2023, after leaving her inside a burning vehicle while she was still alive. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on December 3 that her office formally filed notices indicating their intention to pursue capital punishment against Cudjoe Young, 29, and Sencere Hayes, 23, in relation to the killing of Mercedes Vega, 22, of Tempe.

"I believe the death penalty is an appropriate sentencing consideration for the jury for these two defendants," Mitchell said in a statement. "We will continue to pursue justice for Mercedes Vega and her family."

Vega's mother, Erika Pillsbury, has publicly expressed her desire for the harshest punishment for her daughter's killers. She described the emotional pain of seeing the accused alive in court while her daughter is gone.

Young and Hayes face multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and arson of an occupied structure. Another suspect, Jared Gray, 26, has also been charged with Vega's murder but remains in Georgia awaiting extradition. County Attorney's Office spokesperson Erin Pellett declined to confirm whether Gray will also face the death penalty.

Details of the Crime

Mercedes Vega was abducted from her apartment complex's parking garage and subjected to torture, assault, gunshot wounds, and ultimately left in a Chevrolet Malibu set on fire in Tonopah on April 17, 2023. An autopsy revealed that she was still alive as the vehicle burned, suffering from blunt-force trauma, gunshot wounds, severe burns, and smoke inhalation.

Investigators determined that Young, whom Vega had previously identified as a suspect in a 2020 armed robbery, orchestrated her murder to prevent her from testifying in his case. Young, who had once been considered an NFL prospect, allegedly plotted the killing to silence Vega.

Investigation and Arrests

Authorities struggled to make arrests until November 2024, when Hayes was apprehended in Tennessee after his fingerprint was found on a bloody grocery bag in Vega's car. He has since been extradited to Arizona. Gray was later taken into custody in Georgia after investigators discovered his fingerprint on a plastic cup inside the Malibu where Vega died. His extradition timeline remains unclear.

The trial for Young and Hayes is scheduled for May 28, 2026, in Maricopa County Superior Court. However, capital cases are often subject to lengthy delays due to their complexity. Young is also scheduled for a separate trial on February 2, 2026, related to the 2020 armed robbery of Vega.

Author: Logan Reeves