Found Deceased MD - DaCara Thompson 19, res Lanham, car found w/purse, cash, ID, seen on vid parking 1800 blk Jasmine Ter walking twd Riggs, Hyattsville, 22 Aug 2025

[Unalienable Rights]

Thank you @sds71 for posting the court documents. I couldn't help but think about her parents reading them. They must have been so proud of her for her choice to do service work in the community, and then for them to find out that she had a secret life must have been devastating.

The creep's DNA is undoubtedly going to further incriminate him. I hope that when he is made to realize that there is no defense, he will plead guilty and spare her family from having to go through a trial.

 

[Muddy K]

Can the thread title be updated to reflect that DaCara is gone?

I'm really wondering about the the time gaps that night. I'm sure they'll be filled in as investigators work to build their case, but I think the info might unsurprising and sad.

This is awful. I wish she'd grown weary and just gone home.

 

[Knox]

Maybe a hookup that was intended only to be a short while, in the car parked right there. And, she is pretty, I'm wondering if she took one look at him and wanted to back out, so he forced her to stay in the car.

Total speculation. I just can't understand the situation at this point.

jmopinion

DaCara is a beautiful young woman. She was a new driver, recently licensed. I can’t imagine she would have have intentionally met with this monster to develop a relationship. I hesitate to spell it out, but we all have a free will to do as we like with our own bodies. IF - that was the case here?

I suspect her phone will reveal the reason for the meetup and is how they found him.

My thoughts are with her family as this case continues to evolve.

 

[su5ie]

I don't think there is any reason to question that she sent the text. IIRC the text to her dad was sent about 11:30pm. After that, her last phone location was traced to Hyattsville, and she was seen on camera leaving her car in Hyattsville at 1:30am. So....she was alive at the time the text was sent, and was seen alone 2 hours later.

I will try do a bullet point timeline as it just seems there is so much time between getting gas and her getting into the suv


10pm tells dad , I'm going out ,I will be back .

11pm dad rings but no answer


11.50pm gets text from dad and replies got gas , be home soon goodnight

1.30 am is seen parking at jasmine terrace and walking towards Rigg rd

3.00am is seen talking to an occupant of a vehicle and getting into his suv


Do we have a timestamp for Shell garage of Dacara getting gas ?
Could she have been involved in sex work ? Meeting clients or jaywalking for clients in the time gaps ? I'm just curious because of the hour and the fact she walked up to the suv ,was seen talking to occupant and then got into the vehicle. Seems like something a sex worker might do

 

[Elley Mae]

Court documents reveal he allegedly told authorities that he was at the Galaxy Night Club on University Boulevard in the early morning hours of August 23, which is across the street from where DaCara Thompson was seen getting in the black SUV. Police say he told them that he was supposed to meet his ex-girlfriend, but never did. When they began to question him more, he denied involvement in DaCara's disappearance and asked for a lawyer.

New court documents reveal disturbing details in DaCara Thompson murder case

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, is accused of killing 19-year-old Dacara Thompson.

www.wusa9.com

Across from the galaxy is the shell station on riggs rd.

 

[Tealgrove]

IMO those time gaps will tell the story. She either lied to her father in those texts, or, someone else sent them.

If she sent them, she did not want her family to know what she was doing. Would be interesting to know if she had done something like this previously or was this a one off.

A very pretty and accomplished young lady. I can’t imagine that he would be her type but who knows. She was there with purpose and that speaks volumes.

Catfished maybe?

Buying drugs maybe?

Sex work maybe?

Her phone is going to give us answers.

MOO

 

[Inthedetails]

I will try do a bullet point timeline as it just seems there is so much time between getting gas and her getting into the suv


10pm tells dad , I'm going out ,I will be back .

11pm dad rings but no answer


11.50pm gets text from dad and replies got gas , be home soon goodnight

1.30 am is seen parking at jasmine terrace and walking towards Rigg rd

3.00am is seen talking to an occupant of a vehicle and getting into his suv


Do we have a timestamp for Shell garage of Dacara getting gas ?
Could she have been involved in sex work ? Meeting clients or jaywalking for clients in the time gaps ? I'm just curious because of the hour and the fact she walked up to the suv ,was seen talking to occupant and then got into the vehicle. Seems like something a sex worker might do

Thank you - I love timelines. I hope we are able to fill in the gaps eventually.

I'm thinking along the same lines as you at this point.

My hunch is she was a bright, beautiful young woman and her year-of-service job was a bit boring and she was antsy do something more, and perhaps made unsafe choices about what "something more" would be. jmopinion

jmopinion

 

[Lisbeth_S]

Court documents reveal he allegedly told authorities that he was at the Galaxy Night Club on University Boulevard in the early morning hours of August 23, which is across the street from where DaCara Thompson was seen getting in the black SUV. Police say he told them that he was supposed to meet his ex-girlfriend, but never did. When they began to question him more, he denied involvement in DaCara's disappearance and asked for a lawyer.

New court documents reveal disturbing details in DaCara Thompson murder case

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, is accused of killing 19-year-old Dacara Thompson.

www.wusa9.com

Across from the galaxy is the shell station on riggs rd.

Quote from the article above:

"According to the court documents, detectives had recovered surveillance footage from August 23, from 3:06 a.m., showing her leaving her white SUV and walking from Jasmine Terrace down Riggs Road toward University Boulevard in Hyattsville.

I'm confused on the timeline now. Did she park her car at 1:30 or 3:06?
Regardless we don't know where she was since 11ish.

My mind keeps going on to sex work simply because it would explain the time she's been out and not seen...but equally, why would she lie to her dad saying she's be back shortly? she could have simply used an excuse (like going to a club/friend's/etc)....

Very interested in the developments of the case that I'm sure will clarify the discrepancies.

 

[Inthedetails]

Court records show Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, the suspect in the U.S. illegally and charged with 19yo Dacara Thompson’s murder, worked at a Baltimore-based landscaping company.
•He told police he was at a nightclub to meet his ex but never did, denied involvement in the killing, then asked for a lawyer, according to charging documents.
The body was thrown more than 30 feet over a bridge into the South River off Route 50 near Annapolis. •Police found multiple pairs of women’s underwear, blood, a wig and one of Thompson’s fingernails during a search warrant of Hernandez-Mendez’s home.
•Prince George’s County officials said U.S. Park Police arrested him for a DUI in April but let him go pending trial.
@wjz

https://twitter.com/x/status/1964098868179849259

More info from the documents ^linked^ to add to the timeline:

2am: Defendant said he had the SUV at 2am. (Of course he had it longer than that, but the 2am time is specifically noted in the document.)

3:47-5:03am Victim's phone was in vicinity of defendant's house

5am: A person who has a bedroom next to the defendant's said noises of sex were heard and it sounded like someone "wasn't enjoying the sex."

5:03am Victim's phone is deactivated.

12pm next day: Same witness went outside and the SUV was not parked at the house. Witness said the defendant does not work on Saturdays and witness expected the SUV to be there.

 

[su5ie]

I'm wondering did she walk freely into the defendants house at 3.47 am , From a previous statement it states the victim didn't seem to have been anywhere else in the property apart from the bedroom From 3am till allegedly heard having sex at 5.00am or thereabouts what where they doing , chatting ?

Even for an age gap hook up he doesn't seem a likely person a good looking 19 year old would pick up with even one that was insecure and to me not the type an introvert I could see being with . Hardly a sugar daddy scenario

I definitely think Decara kept secrets from her parents and possibly from friends too and this secrecy was mistaken for introversion . Some of the poses in photos don't portray a typical introverted personality imo .

I've been thinking about the interaction between dad and daughter. If the behaviour was out of character, I don't think his message would have stated I'm going to bed . Especially as she didn't answer the first phone call and only replied in text . 10.00pm seems late for me to go get gas and with most areas that have garages within walking distance of most homes I don't see a particular sense of worry from her dad when she hadn't returned home within say 1 hour which makes me wonder, was the description of an adult daughter with few friends given so LE wouldn't just say She is an adult give her 48 hours or more . By describing his daughter with the characteristics he did it gave a reason for it to be more urgent and unusual imo

 

[crcap]

I'm wondering did she walk freely into the defendants house at 3.47 am , From a previous statement it states the victim didn't seem to have been anywhere else in the property apart from the bedroom From 3am till allegedly heard having sex at 5.00am or thereabouts what where they doing , chatting ?

Even for an age gap hook up he doesn't seem a likely person a good looking 19 year old would pick up with even one that was insecure and to me not the type an introvert I could see being with . Hardly a sugar daddy scenario

I definitely think Decara kept secrets from her parents and possibly from friends too and this secrecy was mistaken for introversion . Some of the poses in photos don't portray a typical introverted personality imo .

I've been thinking about the interaction between dad and daughter. If the behaviour was out of character, I don't think his message would have stated I'm going to bed . Especially as she didn't answer the first phone call and only replied in text . 10.00pm seems late for me to go get gas and with most areas that have garages within walking distance of most homes I don't see a particular sense of worry from her dad when she hadn't returned home within say 1 hour which makes me wonder, was the description of an adult daughter with few friends given so LE wouldn't just say She is an adult give her 48 hours or more . By describing his daughter with the characteristics he did it gave a reason for it to be more urgent and unusual imo

A lot of kids her age are shy or quiet in person but have big personalities online

 

[su5ie]

A lot of kids her age are shy or quiet in person but have big personalities online

Prehaps she was demure in real life but put on a front online

 

[Elley Mae]

On Aug. 24, members of Thompson’s family were able to see the most recent location of her phone, which said it was in Hyattsville. Her family went to the area and found her Ford parked on the side of the road.

Shortly after 3 a.m. on Aug. 23, she got out of her Ford and walked toward the 2000 block of University Boulevard in Hyattsville. At the time, she was wearing a light-colored jacket, black pants and light-colored shoes.
She walked into the parking lot of a nearby Family Dollar and spoke with the driver of a black GMC Yukon Denali. After speaking for a short time, Thompson got into the passenger front seat.

About 45 minutes later, the two had driven to a home in the area of Kembridge Drive, according to court documents.

Just after 9 a.m. on Sept. 4, detectives executed a search warrant at Hernandez-Mendez’s home, detaining multiple other occupants for further investigation.

One person told police they live with their family at the home and are cousins with Hernandez-Mendez and two other roommates. They reported that Hernandez-Mendez has a drinking and drug problem, according to court documents.

In summary, detectives said they know Thompson was in the area near the Kembridge Drive home from about 3:45 a.m. on Aug. 23 until her phone deactivated just after 5 a.m.

https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/prince-georges-county/court-documents-detail-the-last-known-moments-of-missing-murdered-19-year-old/

 

[CityKid]

Court records show Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, the suspect in the U.S. illegally and charged with 19yo Dacara Thompson’s murder, worked at a Baltimore-based landscaping company.
•He told police he was at a nightclub to meet his ex but never did, denied involvement in the killing, then asked for a lawyer, according to charging documents.
The body was thrown more than 30 feet over a bridge into the South River off Route 50 near Annapolis. •Police found multiple pairs of women’s underwear, blood, a wig and one of Thompson’s fingernails during a search warrant of Hernandez-Mendez’s home.
•Prince George’s County officials said U.S. Park Police arrested him for a DUI in April but let him go pending trial.
@wjz

https://twitter.com/x/status/1964098868179849259

BBM. Any possibility that he and Dacara had prior history? This case has me so sad for the parents, who obviously loved her and MOO may be learning about a side of her that they never saw.

 

[AuDHD]

BBM. Any possibility that he and Dacara had prior history? This case has me so sad for the parents, who obviously loved her and MOO may be learning about a side of her that they never saw.

JMO but i believe that was the defendant’s attempt at an alibi that was found by LE to be false.

 

[teeby]

'I am really sorry' | Cousin of alleged killer offers insight into the man accused of DaCara Thompson's death

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, is accused of killing 19-year-old Dacara Thompson.

www.wusa9.com

 

[lastkiss]

I will try do a bullet point timeline as it just seems there is so much time between getting gas and her getting into the suv


10pm tells dad , I'm going out ,I will be back .

11pm dad rings but no answer


11.50pm gets text from dad and replies got gas , be home soon goodnight

1.30 am is seen parking at jasmine terrace and walking towards Rigg rd

3.00am is seen talking to an occupant of a vehicle and getting into his suv


Do we have a timestamp for Shell garage of Dacara getting gas ?
Could she have been involved in sex work ? Meeting clients or jaywalking for clients in the time gaps ? I'm just curious because of the hour and the fact she walked up to the suv ,was seen talking to occupant and then got into the vehicle. Seems like something a sex worker might do

This is really helpful Su5ie thank you

 

[lastkiss]

Thank you - I love timelines. I hope we are able to fill in the gaps eventually.

I'm thinking along the same lines as you at this point.

My hunch is she was a bright, beautiful young woman and her year-of-service job was a bit boring and she was antsy do something more, and perhaps made unsafe choices about what "something more" would be. jmopinion

jmopinion

Also I believe her year of service job was voluntary so would possibly be fed up with having no money?

Moo.

 

[TMich6811]

Curious as to how often she goes out this late.

She’s an “adult” but if my teenage adult (hypothetic I’m not there yet praise the lord) went out that late and didn’t regularly I’d be confused and way more worried than if it was normal. Sounds kind of regular by his response to her imo regardless of what he says either way

 

[su5ie]

'I am really sorry' | Cousin of alleged killer offers insight into the man accused of DaCara Thompson's death

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, is accused of killing 19-year-old Dacara Thompson.

www.wusa9.com

This is behind a subscription paywall for me can you do a 10% synopsis please