Hugo Hernandez-Mendez Indicted In The Death Of Dacara Thompson

BOWIE, MD — Hugo Hernandez-Mendez has been indicted on numerous charges, including common law murder, tampering with physical evidence and burying/disposing of a body in an unauthorized place, in the death of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson made the announcement Tuesday. Hernandez-Mendez, 35, is an undocumented immigrant who was arrested in April by U.S. Park Police on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway near Annapolis Road for a suspected DUI. The federal government released him pending trial, Prince George's County officials said, instead of being deported.

“Today’s indictment marks a critical step in the criminal justice process,” Jackson said. “Thank you to our law enforcement partners and attorneys for their work on this case.”

Thompson's family reported her missing on Aug. 23 after last seeing her the day before. Police say Thompson was killed in Hernandez-Mendez's bedroom in a house in Bowie after they met in a parking lot around 3 a.m. She was last seen in Langley Park and her car was found two days later parked across from the Chillum-Aldephi Volunteer Fire Station, reports said. Her wallet and house keys were in her vehicle.

Authorities said the suspect threw Thompson's nude body off the South River Bridge along Route 50 in Anne Arundel County. She was found several days later by Maryland State Police, lying along the riverbank. Court records show Thompson was thrown more than 30 feet off the bridge and her body suffered numerous fractures. An autopsy showed Thompson suffered skull and facial fractures, according to unredacted charging documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Related:

• Dacara Thompson's Funeral Service Plans Released
• Grisly Details About Dacara Thompson's Death, Suspect's Immigration Status
• 'Possible Connection' Between Body Found And Missing Dacara Thompson
• Missing Woman Confirmed Dead, Bowie Man Charged With Murder
• 'I Just Want Justice': Dacara Thompson's Mom Speaks Out After Suspect's Bail Hearing