Man charged with murder after body of missing teen Dacara Thompson identified

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A man has been charged with murder following the tragic discovery of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson’s body in Anne Arundel County. Thompson, a recent high school graduate and nonprofit service worker, was reported missing on August 23. Her body was found more than a week later in a grassy area off Route 50.

Man charged with murder in connection to Dacara Thompson’s death

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, of Bowie, is charged with first- and second-degree murder, Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader announced at a Friday news conference.

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

County officials confirmed Hernandez-Mendez was living in the United States illegally. He had previously been arrested by U.S. Park Police in April on a DUI charge but was released by federal authorities pending trial. On Thursday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer for his custody.

Beloved teen goes missing

Thompson graduated from St. Charles High School in Waldorf and was living with her father in Lanham while working at a nonprofit through a post-graduate service program.

“This is a young woman who dedicated part of her young life to serving others,” said Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy.

“She wanted to do good for her community, and now her community will stand behind her family as we seek justice for her.”

Footage discovery helps case

Surveillance footage captured Thompson approaching a black SUV around 3 a.m. on August 23. She spoke briefly with the driver before entering the vehicle. Police later identified the SUV as belonging to Hernandez-Mendez and traced it to a residence on Kembridge Drive, where investigators believe Thompson was killed in a bedroom. Police say Hernandez-Mendez later transported her body to the wooded area where it was discovered.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet released an official cause of death, but authorities expect it to be ruled a homicide. Investigators are still working to determine whether Thompson and Hernandez-Mendez knew each other prior to her death.

Disappearance of Dacara Thompson prompted extensive search

Thompson’s disappearance prompted an exhaustive search by her parents, Carmen and Daniel Thompson. She had left her father’s home the night of August 22 to get gas and promised to return soon. Her car was found two days later parked improperly near the Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Station. Her purse, containing cash and credit cards, was still inside, but her phone and key fob were missing. Surveillance footage may show her walking away from the vehicle around 1:30 a.m.

GoFundMe campaign for Dacara Thompson

In the days following her disappearance, Thompson’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to support search efforts and cover related expenses. “She’s our daughter, our light, and we won’t stop until we find her,” Carmen Thompson wrote. The fundraiser helped the family distribute flyers, hire private investigators, and take time off work to focus on finding Dacara.

“I’m exhausting any resource, anything I can think of,” Carmen said during the search. “I’m scared but still hopeful,” added Daniel Thompson.

Investigation Ongoing

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512 or Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS. Please reference case number 25-0046894.