A 35-year-old man identified by authorities as an undocumented migrant from Guatemala has been charged with the murder of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson after her body was found following a two-week search.
Thompson was last seen on August 22 when she left her father's home to fill her car with gas and did not return, according to family members and police. She was reported missing the next day. Her remains were discovered in a grassy area off Route 50 in Maryland after an extended search by relatives and investigators.
Prince George's County investigators said they identified the suspect, Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, through surveillance footage that showed Thompson approaching a black SUV on the night she disappeared. Police traced ownership of the vehicle to Hernandez-Mendez and obtained a search warrant for his residence in Bowie. Officials told reporters that evidence collected at the home indicated Thompson was killed in a bedroom belonging to Hernandez-Mendez.
Hernandez-Mendez was taken into custody and has been formally charged with murder, authorities said. Police did not immediately release further details about the charges, any potential motive or whether federal immigration authorities were involved following the arrest.
Thompson's family described an agonizing two-week search before announcing the discovery of her body. Family members told local media the remains were found unclothed in the grassy area and appealed to the public for information during the search.
Law enforcement officials said the investigation remains active as detectives continue to process evidence and interview witnesses. Court records and public statements from prosecutors have not yet indicated when Hernandez-Mendez will appear in court or whether additional charges are expected.
The case has drawn attention in the region as investigators work to complete forensic examinations and prepare prosecutorial filings. Authorities asked anyone with information about Thompson's disappearance or the movements of a black SUV in the area on Aug. 22 to contact the police department’s tip line.