A man accused of murdering a 22-year-old Mercedes Vegawho was found dead inside a burning car in Arizona in April 2023, has been extradited from Georgia to face charges, according to court records and media reports.
Jared Graywho is in charge first degree murder and other crimes, was extradited to Arizona this week and booked into the Maricopa County Jail, the county sheriff’s office said, KPNX reported.
Your lawyer Jeremy Bogartof the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, declined Us Weekly’s request for comments on Friday, January 9.
Gray’s extradition comes a month after the Maricopa County prosecutor Rachel Mitchell announced that his office is asking for the death penalty against two other men accused of Vega’s death: Whole Hayes i Cudjoe Young.
Hayes, 23, and Young, 29, are also charged with first-degree murder, according to the attorney’s office.
“I think the death penalty is an appropriate sentencing consideration for the jury for these two defendants,” Mitchell said of the two men on Dec. 3. “We will continue to seek justice for Mercedes Vega and her family.”
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Attorneys representing Hayes and Young separately did not immediately respond to requests for comment we.
In April 2023, Vega was kidnapped from the garage of his apartment in Tempe, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, KNXV-TV reported.
Authorities said his body was later discovered in a burning car on Interstate 10 near Tonopah, according to the television station.
A medical examiner’s report reviewed by KNXV-TV revealed Vega had been shot in the arm and had blunt force injuries. Bleach was also found in his throat, according to the report.
Before his death, Vega was supposed to testify against Young in an armed robbery case in which he was the victim, AZ Family reported, citing court records.
In 2020, Young was accused of holding Vega at gunpoint and robbing her.
Before she was killed, Young allegedly bought plane tickets for Hayes and Gray, 26, so they could fly to Arizona from Tennessee, AZ Family reported.
In December, Vega’s parents, tom i Erika Pillsburywelcomed Mitchell’s plan to pursue the death penalty for Young and Hayes, according to KSAZ-TV.
“It is very difficult to hear it emotions of painangry and happy all in the same emotion,” Tom said at the time.
Erika, according to the television station, said she believes “it will be the best situation we can have for justice.”
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In addition to her parents, Vega was survived by her four sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, she said. online obituary.
Vega was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 10, 2001, the obituary said.
“She quickly established her place in this world as a considerable force,” the obituary reads. “He had a substantial impact on everyone he encountered.”
Described as having a “huge heart,” the obituary also says Vega “succeeded in everything she set out to do.”
“She was unapologetic about who she was, but was always uplifting and encouraging to those around her.”