Suspect charged with murder of missing teen Dacara Thompson of Lanham
On September 5, the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit announced the identity and arrest of a man now charged with the murder of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson of Lanham. That murder suspect is 35-year-old Hugo Hernandez-Mendez of Bowie, Maryland.
Background: On August 23, 2025, Dacara Thompson’s family reported her missing to the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). The PGPD’s Missing Persons Unit opened an investigation into her whereabouts. On August 31, Maryland State Police (MSP) opened a death investigation after a female’s body was located in a grassy area off of Route 50 in Anne Arundel County. Based on a possible connection to the PGPD’s missing person’s investigation, PGPD began working jointly with MSP. Tragically, that body has since been identified as Ms. Thompson.
PGPD Homicide Unit detectives were able to locate an additional surveillance video which showed Ms. Thompson approaching a black SUV in the early morning hours of August 23. After speaking to the driver, Dacara is seen entering the SUV. The driver then drove to a home in the 12000 block of Kembridge Drive in Bowie. Based on this evidence, detectives applied for and obtained a search warrant for that home on September 4, 2025.
Evidence was discovered in the residence suggesting Dacara had been murdered in one of the home’s bedrooms. Based on the totality of the evidence of the investigation, detectives arrested and charged Hernandez-Mendez with her murder. Hernandez-Mendez had access to the black SUV and lives in the bedroom where the murder occurred.
Per NBC-4 News in Washington:
- Detectives stated a roommate told them he heard the defendant in his room the morning of Aug. 23 having sex with a woman who “did not seem to be having a good time.”
- Police believe Hernandez-Mendez threw Thompson’s body off a bridge, according to court documents.
- Thompson’s body was found naked Sunday on a riverbank off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County police confirmed.
- Hernandez-Mendez took Thompson’s body to the location where it was found more than a week after the killing, police said.
- Hernandez-Mendez was living in the U.S. illegally.
- ICE released a statement saying the defendant was put under an immigration detainer Thursday.
Hernandez-Mendez was charged with first- and second-degree murder. He is currently in the custody of the Department of Corrections being held on a no-bond status.
A GoFundMe memorial page has been started in Dacara Thompson’s name.
- If anyone has information regarding this case, they are asked to call the Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512.
- Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device), or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous. Please refer to case number 25-0046894.
For more on this tragic story, see the video accompanying this article.
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(Source and Hugo Hernandez-Mendez mugshot: PGPD)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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