A burglar has lastly been charged with killing a stripper who was discovered crushed, shot and burnt to demise the day she was scheduled to testify towards him in court docket for robbing her at gunpoint years in the past.
Cudjoe Younger, 29, was indicted on expenses of homicide, kidnapping and arson within the demise of 22-year-old Mercedes Vega, an unique dancer from Phoenix who was found lifeless in a torched automobile on the aspect of an Arizona freeway in 2023, NBC Information reported.
Years earlier, Vega had recognized Younger as a suspect of an armed theft at her Phoenix condo constructing on Oct. 12, 2020, when she was held up at gunpoint by a masked man after she bought off her shift.
Younger was finally charged with armed theft and Vega was as a result of testify towards him in that case the day she was discovered lifeless.
Vega was kidnapped from her condo constructing’s storage on April 16, 2023, and later discovered battered and burned within the backseat of a fiery Chevy Malibu on the aspect of the interstate earlier than daybreak the subsequent morning, in accordance with police.
Authorities stated that bleach had been poured on her face and down her throat.
Two different strippers from the membership Vega labored at have been additionally focused for robberies by a suspect matching Younger’s description.
He was charged with theft in one of many circumstances, to which he has pleaded not responsible.
In November, police arrested 22-year-old Sencere Hayes, 22, on a first-degree homicide cost for the horrific killing.
Younger is charged with first-degree homicide, kidnapping, arson, theft and armed theft with a lethal weapon and is being held with out bond.
Hayes was indicted final week on the identical expenses as Younger plus hindering prosecution and is being held on a $4 million bond.
Younger’s trial on the theft expenses was scheduled to start Tuesday — however he’s since fired his lawyer and opted to characterize himself, inflicting a delay.
A 3rd suspect, Jared Grey, has additionally been charged with homicide within the case and was awaiting extradition to Arizona from Georgia, the place he’s being held on unrelated expenses, in accordance with jail data.
