The tragic death of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson from Prince George’s County has caught the attention of national leaders, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it a ‘heinous act of violence’ during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, a 35-year-old man, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder in connection with Thompson’s death, which has officially been ruled a homicide.
Thompson’s family reported her missing on August 23 after having last seen her on the preceding day. Authorities have detailed that her life was cut short in Hernandez-Mendez’s bedroom in Bowie after the two reportedly met in a parking lot at around 3 a.m.
According to police reports, Thompson left her vehicle at a designated meeting spot in Hyattsville before entering Hernandez-Mendez’s black GMC Yukon Denali. After driving to Hernandez-Mendez’s residence, where he was staying with relatives, the tragic events unfolded.
The search for Thompson came to a grim conclusion when her naked body was discovered on August 31 along the South River embankment in Annapolis, approximately 30 feet below a bridge. Law enforcement identified her through tattoos and jewelry that matched Thompson’s.
In light of the case, Press Secretary Leavitt emphasized the administration’s commitment to justice, adding that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice were closely involved from the outset. Leavitt underscored the administration’s focus on the deportation of illegal criminals, stating, ‘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.’
Reports indicate that Hernandez-Mendez had previously been arrested by U.S. Park Police on April 25 for an alleged DUI violation on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway near Annapolis Road. The federal authorities released him pending trial, leaving local officials and the community frustrated.
In a statement to the press, the U.S. Attorney for Maryland declined to comment on the case. However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Hernandez-Mendez was placed under an immigration detainer the Thursday following his arrest.
Further information provided by a spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security revealed that Hernandez-Mendez, originally from Guatemala, had previous arrests, including driving under the influence and failure to maintain control of a vehicle to avoid a collision.
DHS condemned Prince George’s County’s ‘sanctuary policies,’ claiming that the locality historically does not cooperate with ICE. This point was echoed by Aisha Braveboy, the Prince George’s County executive, who criticized federal authorities for releasing Hernandez-Mendez while he was in their custody, citing the relevance of individuals’ immigration status in such decisions.
Braveboy noted during a news conference: ‘This was someone who was in their custody, and they made the decision to release him.’
Following Hernandez-Mendez’s bail hearing on Monday, Thompson’s mother expressed her heartbreak, stating, ‘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.’
The community and Thompson’s family are now calling for justice and accountability in the aftermath of this devastating incident.
image source from：patch
