Authorities have confirmed that a body found recently belongs to 19-year-old DaCara Thompson of Lanham, bringing a tragic end to a nearly two-week search.
Police have arrested 35-year-old Hugo Hernandez-Mendez of Bowie and charged him with her murder.
Prince George’s County Police Chief revealed that detectives developed probable cause to charge Hernandez-Mendez with first- and second-degree murder after a series of search warrants and video evidence tied him to Thompson’s disappearance and death.
Thompson was last seen on Aug. 22 and reported missing the following day.
Her family later discovered her vehicle abandoned in Hyattsville.
On Aug. 31, Maryland State Police located a body off eastbound Route 50 at Route 97, now identified as Thompson.
Investigators believe Thompson entered Hernandez-Mendez’s vehicle in the early morning hours of Aug. 23 near University Boulevard in Hyattsville. Detectives tracked the suspect’s vehicle to his residence on Kimber Ridge Drive in Bowie, where they believe the murder took place in his bedroom. Police allege Hernandez-Mendez then transported her body to the site where it was recovered.
“At this time, there are no additional suspects. However, this investigation is ongoing,” officials said on Sept. 5 offering condolences to Thompson’s family.
Hernandez-Mendez remains in custody as the case moves forward.
