Suspect arrested in murder of exotic dancer whose body was found in burning car

A fishy is successful custody for the grisly execution of an exotic dancer, who was near to dice wrong a burning car successful Arizona, constabulary said.

The charred remains Mercedes Vega were discovered connected April 17, 2023 successful the backmost spot of a Chevy Malibu, parked astatine the clip connected the enarthrosis of Interstate 10 adjacent Tonopah immoderate 50 miles westbound of Phoenix. The section aesculapian examiner ruled her decease a homicide, listing the origin of decease arsenic the burns she suffered wrong the conveyance arsenic good arsenic fume inhalation.

According to a coroner’s study cited by ABC 15, the 22-year-old dancer and aspiring idiosyncratic trainer additionally suffered blunt unit trauma and gunshot wounds that contributed to her death. She was besides doused with bleach earlier she was near to die, officials said.

Her parents, Erika and Tom Pillsbury, judge their girl was snatched from the parking garage astatine her flat successful Tempe aft a nighttime retired with friends. They besides noted that she drove a Dodge Charger, which is not the aforesaid conveyance she was recovered successful her. Police said Vega’s car was recovered abandoned a fewer miles distant from wherever she lived and her household said her parking spot was covered successful blood.

Vega’s convulsive decease sparked an investigation that would for months crook up fewer answers — but connected Monday, the sheriff’s bureau revealed they’d precocious caught a interruption successful the lawsuit and yet made an arrest.

Sencere Hayes (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)

Sencere Hayes, 22, was taken into custody Nov. 11 successful Tennessee successful transportation with Vega’s death, according to a connection from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. He’s presently awaiting extradition to Arizona, though it’s not wide what charges he’s facing.

Authorities provided fewer different details, including what grounds linked Hayes to Vega, but household members said the brace did not cognize each other. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s bureau told ABC 15 they expect to marque further arrests successful the lawsuit moving forward.