A family’s worst nightmare became reality after a 19-year-old who vanished in late August was found dead in a secluded part of Maryland.
What began as a missing person case has now turned into a chilling homicide investigation, with authorities charging a 35-year-old Guatemalan man who was living in the U.S. illegally.
The Last Time She Was Seen
Loved ones said that Dacara Thompson was last spotted on August 22 after leaving her father’s house in Hyattsville to buy gas.
She never made it back.
Her family reported her missing the very next day, sparking a desperate two-week search that ended with heartbreak when her body was discovered near Route 50.
How Investigators Traced the Suspect
Police revealed that surveillance footage was the turning point in the case.
Cameras captured Thompson approaching a black SUV on the night she disappeared.
Detectives tracked the vehicle to Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, who lived in Bowie.
After securing a warrant, investigators searched his home and said they found evidence linking the crime to his bedroom.
What Happened That Night
Court records paint a disturbing picture.
Surveillance showed Thompson leaving her own car at a Family Dollar store and then walking behind the building.
She was seen talking to the driver of the SUV for about a minute before getting inside.
Investigators later confirmed, through phone data and additional footage, that she traveled with Hernandez-Mendez for a period of time.
Why she willingly entered the car remains a mystery.
Witness Accounts Raise Alarming Details
During questioning, one of Hernandez-Mendez’s roommates told detectives they overheard him in his room with a woman who “did not seem to be having a good time.”
Two days after Thompson disappeared, her own car was found abandoned with her purse still inside, but no trace of her.
Authorities now believe Hernandez-Mendez may have dumped her body off a bridge after the killing.
A Troubling Background
Officials also confirmed that Hernandez-Mendez had been living in the U.S. illegally.
Earlier this year, he was arrested for drunk driving but was released while awaiting trial.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has since placed him on an immigration detainer, and he is currently being held without bond.
Remembering Dacara
Thompson’s death has shaken her community.
A recent graduate of St. Charles High School in Waldorf, she had been working with a nonprofit through a program for young graduates.
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy described her as “a good young woman who dedicated her life to serving others.”
Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore echoed the sentiment, calling her “a bright light in our state” and promising justice.
What Comes Next
The case now moves forward as Hernandez-Mendez faces murder charges.
Authorities are piecing together unanswered questions—why Thompson got into the car, whether she knew him before that night, and what led to such a tragic end.
For now, her family and community are holding on to her memory while demanding justice be served.