LANHAM, Md. — A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the killing of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson of Lanham, whose disappearance late last month drew widespread attention in Prince George’s County.
Prince George’s County police announced Thursday that 35-year-old Hugo Hernandez-Mendez was taken into custody after investigators linked him to Thompson’s death. He is facing charges of first- and second-degree murder and is being held without bond.
Thompson’s family reported her missing Aug. 23, 2025. Days later, Maryland State Police opened a separate death investigation when a woman’s body was discovered in a grassy area off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County. Authorities soon determined the case was connected, and the body was confirmed as Thompson.
Detectives said surveillance footage showed Thompson entering a black SUV in the early morning hours of Aug. 23 after speaking briefly with the driver. The vehicle traveled to a home in the 12000 block of Kembridge Drive in Bowie, where police believe the killing took place. A search warrant executed Sept. 4 uncovered evidence inside the residence that pointed to Thompson’s death. Hernandez-Mendez, who lives there and has access to the SUV, was identified as the suspect.
While the medical examiner has not yet issued a final ruling on the cause of death, investigators expect it will be classified as homicide. Detectives are still working to determine whether Thompson and Hernandez-Mendez knew each other before the night she vanished.
The arrest provides some answers for Thompson’s grieving family, though questions remain about what led to the fatal encounter. Police have urged anyone with additional information to call the Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512.
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Time to reinstate the Death Penalty.
dam shame
Another victim at the hands of an illegal in this Country. Her death is on the Bidens open border policy.
Dude isn’t even a legal citizen, out here killing our black sisters. Moore doesn’t care about you, only his agenda. Let the feds in and let ice do their jobs.
Biden & Harris should be charged!
Just as I thought, an illegal alien. We need to support Trump to get rid of these monsters from our Country.
This man is an illegal immigrant from Guatemala. Another avoidable murder under Biden’s time in office. He should have been deported long ago. Now Maryland taxes will pay for his keep until he’s dead or released.
Biden’s time in office? This poor child was killed in August of this year ( 2025 ). So swallow your dog whistle. It doesn’t matter who sits in The Oval Office, this type of stuff shouldn’t be happening.
Another Biden import and Steny constituent. Just think, this illegal lived in Bowie and due to the gerrymandering, this ‘Maryland Man’ is represented by the same clown in Congress as citizens in Piney Point.
This is the 2nd innocent Maryland female murdered at the hands of an illegal. Both victims would still be alive if these criminals were not in our Country. Imagine the horror, fear, and pain they went through before they died. No punishment is severe enough.
Let TRUMP HAVE HIM
This guy’s mug shows him in a safety work shirt. What company is hiring illegals and enabling them to get paid while living here is the story I want investigated. The lives taken and or damaged by these criminals are common headlines but the enablers are always kept secret. They need to have a light shined on them too.