GoFundMe campaign created to support funeral costs after Dacara Thompson’s death; man charged with murder

A GoFundMe campaign created to support the search for 19-year-old Dacara Thompson is now helping her family cover funeral expenses. On Friday, authorities confirmed Thompson’s death and arrested a suspect in connection with her murder.

Missing 19-year-old Dacara Thompson was reported missing on August 23

Thompson, a recent graduate of St. Charles High School in Waldorf, was reported missing on August 23 after leaving her father’s Lanham home to get gas. She was living with her father and working at a nonprofit through a post-graduate service program. Police discovered Dacara Thompson’s body on August 31 in a grassy area off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County, nearly one week after her family reported her missing.

Suspect charged with murder

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez (Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office)

On Friday, Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader announced 35-year-old Hugo Hernandez-Mendez of Bowie was charged with first- and second-degree murder in connection to Thompson’s death. County officials stated that Hernandez-Mendez was living in the United States illegally. U.S. Park Police arrested him in April on a DUI charge, and federal authorities later released him pending trial. On Thursday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer for his custody.

Footage discovery helps the case

Surveillance footage captured Thompson entering a black SUV around 3 a.m. on August 23. Officers traced the vehicle to a residence on Kembridge Drive in Bowie and determined that Hernandez-Mendez killed Thompson in his bedroom. Investigators believe he later transported her body to the wooded area where authorities recovered it. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not released an official cause of death, but authorities expect to rule it a homicide.

Intensive search to find Dacara Thompson

Thompson’s disappearance prompted an intensive search led by her parents, Carmen and Daniel Thompson. Two days later, police found her car parked improperly near the Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Station with her purse still inside. Her phone and key fob were missing, and surveillance footage may show her walking away from the vehicle around 1:30 a.m.

GoFundMe campaign launched for Dacara Thompson

In response, the family launched a GoFundMe campaign to support search efforts. The fundraiser helped cover costs for flyers, private investigators, and time off work. “She’s our daughter, our light, and we won’t stop until we find her,” Carmen Thompson wrote.

Following the confirmation of Dacara’s death, the campaign has continued to receive support as the family prepares for funeral arrangements and memorial services. Community members have donated and shared messages of solidarity, honoring a young woman who dedicated her life to serving others.

“This is a good, good, good young woman who wanted to do good for her community,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy. “Now her community will stand behind her family as we seek justice for her.”

To donate or learn more, visit the GoFundMe campaign here.

Investigation Ongoing

The investigation remains active.

Police urge anyone with information to contact the Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512 or Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS. Reference case number 25-0046894.