Dacara Thompson investigation: Hugo Hernandez-Mendez arrested, charged with teen's murder

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Police say 35-year-old Hugo Hernandez-Mendez of Bowie was arrested and is facing first and second-degree murder charges after detectives linked him to the killing of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson, whose August disappearance prompted an investigation by agencies across Maryland.

READ MORE: Police say body found in Maryland could be missing 19-year-old Dacara Thompson

Dacara Thompson murder arrest

Thompson was reported missing on August 23, one day after she was last seen at a gas station in Lanham. Her 2013 Ford Edge was later found abandoned in Hyattsville.

On August 31, Maryland State Police launched a death investigation after a woman’s body was discovered in a grassy area off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County. Authorities have since confirmed the body was Thompson’s.

READ MORE: Investigation into disappearance of Dacara Thompson continues

During a news conference on Friday, officials said that surveillance footage obtained by detectives showed Thompson approaching a black SUV in the early morning hours of August 23. Authorities say that after speaking with the driver, she entered the vehicle, which was later traced to a home on Kembridge Drive in Bowie.

READ MORE: Hugo Hernandez-Mendez: Who is the man charged in Dacara Thompson’s murder?

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez facing murder charges

Police searched the residence on September 4 and say they found evidence indicating Thompson was murdered in a bedroom inside the home. Hernandez-Mendez, who lives at the address and had access to the SUV, was taken into custody shortly after.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet determined Thompson’s exact cause of death, but investigators expect it to be ruled a homicide.

Detectives are still working to determine whether Thompson and the suspect knew each other prior to her disappearance. 

Hernandez-Mendez is being held without bond by the Department of Corrections.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed deep sorrow over the death of Thompson, calling it an act of senseless violence and praised her commitment to public service through the Maryland Service Year Option.

"She was a bright light in our state. We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure those responsible for this crime are held accountable and honor Da’Cara’s legacy of service through our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of all Marylanders," Moore said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit at 301-516-2512.