Since Aug. 23, 2025, police have been investigating the disappearance of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson from Lanham. On Sept. 5, 2025, her family finally got some closure after a body found off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County was confirmed to be Thompson’s, per a Facebook announcement from Prince George’s County Police. The body wasn’t immediately identified, but days later, authorities were able to confirm it was, in fact, Thompson.
Not only has Thompson’s body been located, but police believe she was killed by Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, who has since been charged with her murder. Here’s everything to know about what happened to her and the man allegedly behind the crime.
Officials have confirmed they found Dacara Thompson’s body.
Dacara Thompson was reported missing on Aug. 23, 2024, after she never came home the night before. According to NBC Washington, she left on Aug. 22 to get gas for her vehicle, but two days later, her car was found with her belongings still inside, though her phone was missing and had been disabled.
When PGPD homicide detectives went through surveillance footage, they saw Thompson approach a black SUV in the early morning hours of Aug. 23. She spoke briefly with the driver before getting inside. Now, police aren’t sure if this was her first encounter with the driver, who police believe to be Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, or if they already knew each other.
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