Man accused in armed robbery of Phoenix dancer has been charged in her brutal murder

A man accused in the armed robbery of an exotic dancer in Arizona five years ago has been charged with murder, kidnapping and other crimes in her horrific 2023 killing, court records obtained Tuesday show

A man accused in the armed robbery of an exotic dancer in Arizona five years ago has been charged with murder, kidnapping and other crimes in her horrific 2023 killing, court records obtained Tuesday show.

Cudjoe Young, 29, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, arson, theft and armed robbery with a deadly weapon in the killing of Mercedes Vega on April 16, 2023, a copy of the indictment shows.

A second suspect, Sencere Hayes, was charged with Vega's murder last year and indicted Thursday on the same charges as Young, as well as hindering prosecution, according to the indictment.

Their arraignments are scheduled for Friday.

Hayes is being held in lieu of $4 million bond, jail records show. Young is being held without bond in connection with a separate case, according to the records.