A Woman Was Found in Burning Car with Bleach in Throat — and She Was Set to Testify Against One of the Suspects By Nicole Acosta

A man accused by authorities of robbing an exotic dancer at gunpoint in Arizona has now been charged in connection with her killing.

Cudjoe Young was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, arson, armed robbery and more, according to an indictment filed in Maricopa County Superior Court on July 24 and obtained by PEOPLE.

The indictment also names Sencere Hayes, who was arrested in November 2024 in connection with 22-year-old Mercedes Vega’s 2023 killing. Hayes was also indicted this month on the same charges as Young, PEOPLE confirms. A third suspect’s name is redacted in the indictment. 

PEOPLE couldn’t immediately identify attorneys for the suspects. It’s also unclear if they have entered pleas. According to AZ Family, Young said Tuesday, July 29 that he plans to represent himself in upcoming court hearings.

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Authorities said Vega was kidnapped from the parking lot of her Tempe residence on April 16, 2023 and found dead the next day in a burning car, according to court documents cited by AZ Central, NBC News and AZ Family. A medical examiner determined Vega had suffered blunt force trauma and was shot, in addition to having bleach poured down her throat, the outlets reported.

AZ Family reports that the medical examiner also determined that Vega died from smoke inhalation, indicating she was still alive when the fire was started.

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According to court documents cited by NBC News, Vega was scheduled to testify in an armed robbery case involving Young on the day she was found dead. The outlet reports that Vega claimed Young robbed her at gunpoint after she ended her shift at a strip club in Phoenix in October 2020.

Investigators allege Young paid two people to pick up the car where Vega was found dead and that he was linked to plane tickets bought by the two other suspects, according to NBC News and AZ Central.

In her obituary, Vega was remembered as a straight-A student who played the violin and “always stood up for others and protected those who could not protect themselves.”