Mercedes Vega is seen on video at 9:15 p.m. leaving her apartment complex in Tempe, Arizona.
In the video Vega is seen walking with her face looking down as if she was on Facetime. Mercedes Vegas is texting multiple people on the night of April 16. And looking at those messages as a whole, she is e…Mercedes Vega is seen on video at 9:15 p.m. leaving her apartment complex in Tempe, Arizona.
In the video Vega is seen walking with her face looking down as if she was on Facetime. Mercedes Vegas is texting multiple people on the night of April 16. And looking at those messages as a whole, she is either going to meet friends for Sushi, meet other friends at "Dave&Busters," or, as she indicates in another text, go to work.
In one of her text messages Mercedes Vega says, "I just feel weird, like maybe I shouldn't go anywhere."
In the early morning hours of April 17, the Harquahala Fire Department responds to a report of a burning car on the “north hand shoulder” of the I-10 highway, west of Tonopah, Arizona. Firefighters find a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu on fire.
Once the fire is put out, a deceased human body is found in the rear passenger seat.
At 1:15 a.m. Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies are called to a scene to assist the Arizona Department of Public Safety on a death investigation. Investigators talk to the man who called law enforcement about the car on fire. Robert Miller tells officials he saw a person walking outside the vehicle.
Using fingerprints, investigators can identify the woman found inside the burning Malibu as 22-year-old Mercedes Vega. The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu in which her body was found, does not belong to Vega. The car has a Salvage Title vehicle registered to State Farm Insurance and the burning car is 60 miles from Vega's Tempe, Arizona apartment. Mercedes' 2019, White, Dodge Charger is found illegally parked near First Street and Farmer Avenue, 1.5 miles south of where she lives.
According to her mother, the car is parked while running with the keys in the ignition so it would be stolen or towed. The MCSO has video surveillance of Vega's Charger from the time it is left parked on the road until the time police recover it. Vega didn't park it where it was found.
Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s report states the cause of death was “conflagration, blunt force and ballistic injuries," and the Manner of Death is Homicide. The death report also states she has blunt force trauma and gunshot injuries that contributed to her death, and an odor of bleach within the larynx.
The report notes the presence of gloves and bleach found in front of the car and lighter fluid in the backseat.
JOINING NANCY TODAY:
• Tom and Erika Pillsbury - Mercedes Vega's parents, FB: Justice for Mercedes Marianna Vega
• Sarah Ford – Legal Director of South Carolina Victim Assistance Network, Former Prosecutor (focusing on crimes against women and children) & Host of “Stepping Toward Justice” podcast; X: @Sarahafordfordesq
• Robin Dreeke – Behavior Expert & Retired FBI Special Agent / Chief of the FBI Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program; Author: “Sizing People Up: A Veteran FBI Agents Manual for Behavior Prediction;” X: @rdreekeke
• Dr. Michelle DuPre – Former Forensic Pathologist, Medical Examiner and Detective: Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Author: “Homicide Investigation Field Guide” & “Investigating Child Abuse Field Guide;” Forensic Consultant
• Bianca Buono – Reporter, 12 News (Phoenix, AZ), X: @BiancaBuono See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.more
In April of 2023, a 22-year-old woman was found dead in a burning vehicle in Arizona after being abducted from her apartment’s parking garage. As the gruesome details of her murder came to light, such as bleach being found in her throat, her family desperately wondered, who was the depraved person b…In April of 2023, a 22-year-old woman was found dead in a burning vehicle in Arizona after being abducted from her apartment’s parking garage. As the gruesome details of her murder came to light, such as bleach being found in her throat, her family desperately wondered, who was the depraved person behind her death? And why did they do this to her? This is the murder of Mercedes Vega.more
A huge thank you to Erika, Tom, Alahzay, Makenzie, and Astilia for participating in this case. Their effort these last few weeks has made this episode possible, and I am so grateful for their time and energy.
A note from Erika to detectives:
Dear MCSO, FBI and the Great state of Arizona.
Your di…A huge thank you to Erika, Tom, Alahzay, Makenzie, and Astilia for participating in this case. Their effort these last few weeks has made this episode possible, and I am so grateful for their time and energy.
A note from Erika to detectives:
Dear MCSO, FBI and the Great state of Arizona.
Your dismissive attitude towards my daughter’s murder is disgusting. The unimportance of her life is obvious. Your ignorance of reality and unwillingness to tell me why my daughter is gone pisses me off. If anyone deserves to know why she is gone, it’s me.
It’s been almost a year... Explain to me why you can’t give her mamma an answer as to why she is gone!!! Why can’t you tell the mamma of this beautiful woman why her baby is dead!?!?
Why do her siblings, cousins, grandparents, and her incredible friends continue to wait? No reason, no comfort, no answers?? Why do we have to continue to look over our shoulders for the killer of our loved one? Why are you not sharing details? Why aren’t you reaching out to the public for answers. Why are you unable to provide answers to these questions? Are you just ignoring us? Is she that unimportant to you? It can’t be that hard. I need you to find the ANSWERS!
REQUESTS:
General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly
Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN
