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A MAN charged with armed robbery in a case involving dancer Mercedes Vega is now being linked to her murder – two years after she was found inside a burning car.
In April 2023, Vega’s remains were found inside the vehicle and her face had been covered in bleach after being kidnapped.
The dancer had planned to meet her friend having left her Tempe, Arizona, flat but never arrived.
In 2020, Vega was ambushed by a masked gunman who ordered her to hand over her possessions.
The gunman allegedly threatened to kill the Phoenix dancer after she was shoved to the ground.
Cudjoe Young was charged with armed robbery and Vega named him as the suspect, as reported by NBC News.
She was supposed to take the stand at court on the day she was found dead.
Now Maricopa County cops believe Young should be charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Vega’s mom, Erika Pillsbury, has since welcomed the verdict.
“We’ve been thrown a life preserver,” she said.
She told how her family had been “drowning” in what she described as a “sea of despair.”
Young tried to hack into Vega’s phone after snatching her device.
But, he couldn’t get into it as she didn’t have facial recognition enabled.
Vega named Cudjoe after identifying him in the line-up.
Pillsbury told how the ordeal left Vega distraught.
She ended up moving to a new apartment.
Cudjoe pleaded not guilty over the armed robbery charges.
Meanwhile, two other men have been charged in connection with Vega’s death.
Jared Gray, who is holed up in a Georgia jail, faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges.
Another suspect, Sencere Hayes has also been charged with her murder. Hayes pleaded not guilty.
Hayes told cops he knew Gray. But, Gray denied knowing the two other men.
Vega, a former strip club dancer, vanished after leaving her apartment on April 16, 2023.
But, she was found inside a burning car – around 60 miles from her Phoenix home.
The vehicle was a different one than Vega’s car that was abandoned.
Cops discovered blood on the front passenger seat.
Investigators suspected she had been assaulted before being kidnapped as reported by Arizona Republic.
A purse was also found and underneath it was a grocery store bag covered in blood.
CHILLING TEXT
Cops also made more chilling discoveries when they searched inside the car.
A pair of gloves and some bleach were found, and there was lighter fluid in the back.
On the day Vega was last seen, she messaged her friend, Jelena Gamboa, who she was planning to meet.
In the text message, she included a crying emoji.
“Uber is $60,” Vega wrote.
She then told Gamboa the cost seemed a sign she shouldn’t go out.
Hayes risks facing the death penalty if he’s convicted of Vega’s murder.
