Woman Found in Burning Car with Bleach in Throat

In July 2025, the suspect Cudjoe Young was formally indicted on a series of charges, including first-degree murder, arson, kidnapping, and armed robbery.

Prosecutors allege he orchestrated the abduction and violent death of 22-year-old Mercedes Vega, an exotic dancer in Arizona, found dead in a burning vehicle.

A Witness Silenced in a Terrifying Crime

Young faces multiple felony counts, and fellow suspect Sencere Hayes was also indicted.

Court filings hint at a third unidentified person who may have assisted in disposing of the car and facilitating logistics. Another suspect remains redacted from public documents.

A Murder with a Chilling Twist

Mercedes Vega disappeared on April 16, 2023, when she was abducted from the parking lot of her Tempe apartment. The next day, her body was discovered inside a burning car on the side of an interstate highway.

Autopsy reports showed she had suffered blunt force trauma, a gunshot wound, and toxic levels of bleach in her throat. Evidence indicated she was alive when the fire was set, as smoke inhalation was ruled the actual cause of death.

Victim Was to Testify Against One Suspect

Authorities believe Vega had planned to serve as a witness against Cudjoe Young in an earlier armed robbery case, in which she alleged he held her at gunpoint in 2020 after she left her workplace.

Prosecutors believe this fact may have motivated Young’s alleged decision to eliminate her as a witness. Court documents suggest Young may have paid assistants to transport the car and may have been tied to airfare bookings for those involved.

Remembering a Young Life Lost Far Too Soon

Friends and family remember Vega as a high achiever who studied seriously, played the violin, and stood up for others. She was admired for her strength and independence. A GoFundMe tribute page described her as “intelligent, brave, and compassionate”—someone who always defended those who couldn’t do so themselves. Her sudden death left a deep void in the communities that supported her.

Legal Moves & an Unusual Defense Plan

As the trial draws near, Young has reportedly expressed his intention to represent himself in court.

The legal strategy remains unclear, but observers expect a contentious and emotional pre-trial process. Prosecutors may introduce evidence including cellphone records, testimonial affidavits, and ticket purchase history that link Young and other defendants to the crime scene.

Why This Case Is Gripping the Public

This case hits a nerve on multiple fronts—violent crime, the silencing of a witness, and allegations of extreme brutality. A woman believed to be involved in exposing wrongdoing was assaulted and left in a state of shockingly cruel execution.

The combination of assault, bleach ingestion, and burning the vehicle while she was alive shocks even seasoned law enforcement officials.

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