Man arrested in Tennessee after dancer's body found in burning car along Arizona highway
More than a year after a woman's body was found in the backseat of a burning car along an Arizona highway, authorities this week announced an arrest in the woman's brutal slaying.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office reported homicide detectives traveled to Tennessee, where they arrested 22-year-old Sencere Patrick Hayes in connection to the death of Mercedes Vega. She was 22.
The victim's body was found on April 17, 2023 in the backseat of a burning car outside Tonopah, an unincorporated community about 60 miles west of Vega's home in Tempe.
On Monday, sheriff's office spokesperson Sgt. Monica Bretado said Hayes was arrested Nov. 11 and deputies would work with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to extradite him back to Arizona.
Bretado did not specify whether detectives had identified any additional suspects tied to the killing and also did not elaborate on how detectives tied Hayes to Vega's death.
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office records showed Hayes, who is from Chattanooga, Tennessee, remained jailed there Wednesday without bond. His booking information did not list an attorney of record.
Online records show he's due to appear in court Dec. 12 before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom.
When will Sencere Hayes be extradited back to Arizona?
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs' spokesperson, Christian Slater, on Tuesday told The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, the extradition process on Hayes would begin once charges have been filed.
Prosecutors in Arizona said Hayes is facing a first-degree murder charge.
USA TODAY has reached out to the prosecutor's office to see whether more charges will be filed against Hayes.
Officials have not said why they waited a week to publicly announce the arrest.
What happened to Mercedes Vega?
On April 17, 2023, Deputies responded to reports of a burning car on the shoulder of Interstate 10 outside Tonopah.
At the scene, law enforcement found a Chevrolet Malibu ablaze and Vega's body inside the vehicle.
Prior to her death, Vega worked part-time as a dancer at a club, NBC News reported in April. Her family said she planned to quit dancing, open up a gym and become a personal trainer.
Flyers distributed by Vega's family and friends said she was last seen the night before her death as she walked to her car in the parking garage at the apartments where she lived.
A medical examiner report ruled Vega’s death a homicide, citing the cause of death being due to the burns she suffered and smoke inhalation. According to the report, blunt force trauma and gunshot wounds also contributed to her death.
Gloves and bleach were found in the front of the car and lighter fluid was in the backseat, the medical examiner wrote in the report.
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'She didn’t deserve this'
Last November, Vega's family and friends gathered in downtown Phoenix where they pleaded for answers and evidence they hoped would lead to justice for Vega's stolen life.
“I miss her so much,” Vega's mother Erika Pillsbury said during the gathering at a Phoenix police station. “She was so bright. She was such a beautiful, sweet, kind soul. She didn’t deserve this... She was mine and the person that did this had no right to take her away.”
Makenzie Lockhart, a friend of Vega’s, also read a letter addressed to her late friend.
"You were robbed of your life and your future," Lockhart said. "We, your family and friends, were robbed of watching your future and it can’t just be for nothing. I’ll be damned if these vile, evil people will get away with what they did to you.”
Contributing: Jose R. Gonzalez with the Arizona Republic
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sencere Hayes arrested in 2023 killing of Arizona woman Mercedes Vega