Prosecutors intend to apply for a death penalty to the murder of Mercedes Vega

Phoenix (Azfamilie) – The public prosecutors of the Maricopa district intend to apply for the death penalty to murder a temporary woman who was burned alive in a car two years ago.

At the beginning of this week, the state submitted the intention to apply for the death penalty against Sencere Patrick Hayes if it was convicted of murder of Mercedes Vega.

The public prosecutor found that aggravating factors that justify the death penalty, in particular that Hayes Vega allegedly killed in order to prevent them from testifying against another man during a predatory examination. The announcement states that the murder “Vega's cooperation with an official investigation by the law enforcement authorities prevents their certificate in a court proceedings or for retaliation for their cooperation with an official investigation of law enforcement”.

Vega was supposed to testify against a man named Cudjoe Young, who allegedly held her with a gun held up and moved out in 2020. He was arrested after Vega made him out in a list.

No connection between Hayes and Young is known, but both come from the Chattanooga region, Tennessee. Young was not charged with Vega's murder.

Vega's parents, Tom and Erika Pillsbury, sent the following explanation to Arizona's family about the message:

“Everyone who knows us knows that we have long waited for justice in Mercedes' case. We are so grateful that the state has decided to make it a priority and to ensure that it receives justice that she deserves.

My wife and I have the feeling of giving a weight that was lifted from our shoulders, and now we can put our trust in the judicial system. Now we know that we are not the only ones fighting for them and we thank the public prosecutor's office of the Maricopa district, the Sheriff office of the Maricopa County and the state of Arizona.

We do not give up this and will continue to get justice for you because it was important. It is so important and we miss it so much. We do not like the fact that someone has to die so that my daughter gets justice, but we cannot deny that his crime justifies this decision of the State of Arizona.

We are grateful that justice will happen. We thank everyone for all the prayers, friendly words and the time they took to recognize our daughter and ensure that she was not forgotten.

We have the feeling that we can step down and the investigators have their work and public prosecutor done. We don't have to fight so hard anymore. We have the feeling that it is finally important so that the people who can do something about it. It is a great relief for us and we gain confidence in the system. “

Vega was last seen alive on April 16, 2023 and left her temporary apartment on a surveillance camera. She should meet with friends, but her car was later found in pace near the culinary breakout.

The next day her body was found in another car that had been set on fire near Interstate 10 a few miles west of Tonopah. A report by a medical examiner states that Vega had been shot in the arm, had been hit in the head and had bleach in her neck, but she still lived when the fire started. The report came to the conclusion that Vega died of a smoke in a smoke.

Hayes was arrested in Hamilton County, Tennessee in November 2024, and delivered to Arizona over a year after the murder.

His legal proceedings are scheduled to begin on July 31.

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