Police confirmed on September 5 that they charged Hugo Hernandez-Mendez in connection with the death of 19-year-old Dacara Thomspon. In August, Dacara’s family reported her missing after she reportedly left her dad’s house to fill her gas tank. Two days later, police found her vehicle with her purse still inside, but her phone was missing and disabled.
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Here’s What Happened To Dacara Thompson
Fox 5 DC reports that Dacara Thompson went missing on or around August 23. This followed witnesses last seeing her at a gas station in Lanham. Police later found her 2013 Ford Edge abandoned in Hyattsville. On August 31, Maryland State Police began a death investigation after discovering a woman’s body in a grassy area off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County. Police later confirmed that the body belonged to Thompson.
During a September 5 news conference, officials explained that detectives reviewed surveillance footage showing Dacara walking up to a black SUV in the early hours of August 23. NBC Washington reports that she allegedly spoke to the driver before getting inside. The SUV then traveled to a home in the 12000 block of Kembridge Drive in Bowie. Detectives searched the residence and found evidence that Hugo Hernandez-Mendez allegedly killed Thompson in his bedroom. At this time, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet determined Dacara’s cause of death but expects to rule it as a homicide.
Details On Mendez’s Arrest In Connection With Dacara’s Murder
NBC Washington reports that police arrested Hugo Hernandez-Mendez in Maryland on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway near Route 450. Despite his arrest, investigators are still working to determine whether he knew Thompson before murdering her. WGXA reports that authorities told 7 News that Mendez was in the United States illegally. U.S. Park Police reportedly arrested him back in April on a DUI charge. However, he reportedly walked free while awaiting trial in the U.S. District Court.
Social Media Weighs In On Update About Dacara & Mendez’s Arrest
After TSR shared the update about Dacara Thompson and Mendez’s arrest, social media weighed in with reactions in the comment section. Several folks questioned the relationship between the two and are patiently waiting for answers as the case develops.
Instagram user @_mar.iah___ wrote, “I was praying they would find her alive. Her poor parents on the NEWS you can see that pain and hurt in their eyes. Smh this is horrible what was his reason smh 😢😢”
Instagram user @dentalgirl_bombshell wrote, “No matter what the situation was why did he have to kill her????? Smh this is so sad.”
While Instagram user @tina.nims wrote, “For her to leave all her belongings inside her vehicle that’s kidnapping. Smh.”
Then Instagram user @whatisnicoledoing wrote, “This what the damn feds in dc needs to be fighting instead of the civilians.”
Another Instagram user, @tayelorism, wrote, “There are so many missing details to this case. I am so sorry this young lady lost her life through all of this. 🙏🏾”
Instagram user @jo_grizzley wrote, “Something bout this story don’t seem right. I don’t see her willfully getting in that truck.”
Then another Instagram user @sheis.teanna wrote, “I just wanna know why was she with him? Who was he to her???”
Finally, Instagram user @theeprincess.jasmine wrote, “I hope she wasn’t selling it. Cause why would she get in the car with him? RIP.”
