Dacara Thompson’s accused killer declines legal right, signals potential strategy in court

A Maryland man accused of killing 19-year-old Dacara Thompson will remain behind bars after waiving his right to a bond hearing on Monday, September 8, 2025, a decision that could hint at a plea strategy by the defense.

Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, appeared briefly in Prince George’s County District Court, where his public defender told the judge he would not contest detention. The judge ordered Hernandez-Mendez held without bond, citing the severity of the charges and the evidence investigators say links him to Thompson’s death, according to The Washington Post.

The case against Hernandez-Mendez

Thompson disappeared on Aug. 23 after leaving her Lanham home. Surveillance video showed her exiting her own SUV before approaching a black GMC Yukon Denali and speaking with the driver, later identified by police as Hernandez-Mendez. She was then seen getting into the vehicle.

Authorities later traced the Yukon to a home on Kembridge Drive in Bowie, where Hernandez-Mendez lived. On Aug. 31, Thompson’s body was found off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County near a bridge along the South River. A medical examiner determined she had suffered skull and facial fractures. Investigators believe she was killed inside the Bowie residence before being dumped from the bridge, more than 30 feet above the riverbank.

Police searching the house on Sept. 4 discovered blood evidence inside the home and in the Yukon. Hernandez-Mendez was charged with first- and second-degree murder and taken into custody. Immigration authorities also filed a detainer, noting that he is living in the United States without legal status and had been arrested earlier this year for driving under the influence.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8, when prosecutors are expected to present evidence before a grand jury.

Family response

Outside the courthouse, Thompson’s mother, Carmen Thompson, urged the public not to spread false information about her daughter’s death.

“There’s been a lot of people disparaging her character on social media,” she said, according to local news outlet WTOP. “Please don’t believe everything you see. Out of respect for the family and us grieving, please approach everything with grace.”

She described her daughter as kind and free-spirited, adding that Dacara had just completed a year-long service internship. The family, she said, is focused on honoring her memory and pursuing justice.