White House Calls Dacara Thompson Homicide 'Heinous Act'

BOWIE, MD — The killing of Dacara Thompson, 19, of Prince George's County, was addressed during the White House press briefing Tuesday, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing her death as a "heinous act of violence."

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, was charged Friday with first- and second-degree murder in Thompson's death, which has been ruled a homicide. He appeared in court for a bail hearing Monday.

Thompson's family reported her missing on Aug. 23 after last seeing her the day before. Police said Thompson was killed in Hernandez-Mendez 's bedroom in a Bowie house after they met in a parking lot around 3 a.m. Thompson left her vehicle at a meeting spot in Hyattsville and entered Hernandez-Mendez's black GMC Yukon Denali. They drove together to the home where Hernandez-Mendez was staying with relatives, court documents show.

Court documents said Thompson's naked body was found Aug. 31 by Maryland State Police along the South River embankment in Annapolis, around 30 feet below the bridge. The body's tattoos and jewelry matched those of Thompson.

Leavitt’s comments were made after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials posted Friday on X that “justice will be served for this Maryland family," reported The Baltimore Sun.

Leavitt told the press corps, “As soon as we saw this case, we ensured that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice were on it, and I can assure you that they are. … That’s exactly why the deportation of illegal criminals from our country is a top priority for this administration, and it’s something that is happening every single day.”

NBC Washington reported Hernandez-Mendez had been arrested by U.S. Park Police after he was stopped April 25 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.

The U.S. attorney for Maryland would not comment, NBC Washington said. ICE released a statement saying Hernandez-Mendez was put under an immigration detainer Thursday.

The Washington Post said a spokesperson at DHS confirmed in a statement that ICE has lodged an arrest detainer against Hernandez-Mendez, who is from Guatemala. According to the spokesperson, he had arrests “for driving under the influence and failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle to avoid a collision” in May 2022. In the statement, DHS condemned the county’s “sanctuary policies” and claimed that it “historically does not cooperate with ICE.”

Aisha Braveboy (D), Prince George’s County executive, said the suspect was arrested for drinking under the influence as an undocumented immigrant, but was released pending trial, criticizing federal authorities.

“The U.S. government has made status of individuals relevant,” Braveboy said during a news conference. “This was someone who was in their custody, and they made the decision to release him.”

Thompson's mom commented after Hernandez-Mendez's Monday hearing that, "I'm very disappointed finding that out now. Because we may not be here today if they did what they were supposed to do. I just want justice served for my daughter."

Related:

• 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