A body found along a Maryland highway was identified as 19-year-old Dacara Thompson, a missing woman from Prince George's County, police said Friday. 

A man illegally in the United States, 35-year-old Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, is now accused of killing her and is being held without bail.

According to court records WJZ Investigates obtained, Hernandez-Mendez, from Guatemala, worked at a Baltimore-based landscaping company. 

"Our entire state mourns the horrible loss of Da'Cara Thompson, who was taken from us by an act of senseless violence," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. "Dawn and I join all Marylanders in praying for Da'Cara and her family in the wake of this tragedy." 

Dacara Thompson's body found 

Family members desperately searched for Decara Thompson for more than two weeks after she left and never returned to the home she shared with her father in Prince George's County. 

"She means so much to so many, and so it is tough that we're at this point where the search is over and justice begins," County Executive Aisha Braveboy said Friday. 

Thompson's body was found in a grassy area off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County on Sunday, Aug. 31, nearly one week after her family reported her missing. 

According to charging documents, Hernandez-Mendez threw her body off the U.S. 50 bridge into the South River—a drop police estimated at more than 30 feet. 

She had skull and facial fractures. Her family identified her through her tattoos and jewelry, police wrote.

Authorities are being tight-lipped about the motive. 

"There's still a lot of investigative work to be done in this case," Prince George's County Police Chief George Nader said. 

Her father, Daniel Thompson, said she left their house in Lanham around 10 p.m. on August 22 to get gas. He last spoke to her over text just before midnight, he said. 

"I got gas and I'm out. I should be back soon. I love you too. Goodnight," Daniel Thompson said as he recalled his daughter's text.

It was the last time he would ever hear from her.

Dacara Thompson's murder 

The 19-year-old was seen on surveillance video leaving her white Ford Edge SUV in Hyattsville.

The video showed her getting into an SUV after talking to the driver. According to police, the driver then drove to a home in the 12000 block of Kembridge Drive in Bowie. 

According to charging documents, she approached the suspect's GMC Yukon Denali and "after approximately a minute of conversing, walks over to the passenger side of the vehicle and gets into the passenger front seat."

"For a reason still under investigation, it appears that Dacara willfully entered a vehicle being driven by Hugo Rene Hernandez-Mendez," Chief Nader said.  

Police said they drove to his house in the 12000 block of Kembridge Drive in Bowie. They believe he killed her in his bedroom. 

A roommate reports "hearing the defendant having sex" and then "a grunting noise which made it believe that 'someone wasn't enjoying the sex,'" according to court documents. 

After executing a search warrant, police found what they believed to be the victim's blood and missing white and pink French manicured fingernail, along with hair, a wig, and other evidence in the bedroom and in the trash, along with "multiple pairs of women's underwear and lingerie."

They said they believed there was a struggle. 

Hernandez-Mendez agreed to an interview and told detectives he went to the Galaxy nightclub to meet his ex-girlfriend, but never did. When detectives questioned further...the defendant denied any involvement." He then asked for his lawyer, and police ended their questioning, court documents stated. 

The nightclub is near where authorities said Thompson got inside the suspect's vehicle.  

Police searched the home on September 4 and found evidence that suggested Dacara Thompson had been murdered in a bedroom of the home. 

Her cause of death has not yet been determined. 

Hernandez-Mendez was charged with first- and second-degree murder and is being held on no bond, police said Friday. 

Detectives are still working to determine whether Dacara Thompson and Hernandez-Mendez knew each other before August 23.

Anyone with information is asked to call Prince George's County Police at 301-516-2512. 

According to Gov. Moore, Thompson joined the state's most recent group of Maryland Service Year Option members right out of high school. The group represents Marylanders who are committed to public service. 

"She yearned to be part of our mission to solve big problems with bold solutions through her passion for the arts," the governor said. 

"She was a bright light in our state," Moore added. "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."

Illegally in the United States

Prince George's County officials said Hernandez-Mendez was in the United States illegally.

According to charging documents, a cousin told police, "The defendant has a drinking and drug problem."

"I think that the U.S. government has made the status of individuals relevant," the county executive said. "This was someone who was in their custody, and they made the decision to release him. So, I think the questions should be asked of the Justice Department."

Officials said ICE waited until Thursday to issue a detainer for the suspect.

U.S. Park Police arrested him for a DUI five months ago but let him go. 

"He was arrested by U.S. Park Police which falls under the auspices of the federal government. So, the federal government arrested him in April of this year on a DUI charge. He was then released pending his trial. I don't believe his trial date has come up yet," Braveboy said. 

Maryland was in the national spotlight after another man in the country illegally, Victor Martinez-Hernandez, raped and murdered Rachel Morin in Bel Air in 2023. 

He is currently serving life without parole.

The year before Morin was attacked, authorities said a 17-year-old from El Salvador with ties to the MS-13 gang killed 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton in Aberdeen in 2022. 

Her mother later sued the federal government for allowing him into the United States.