Homicide victim Da'Cara Thompson, 19, found dead in a grassy area in Maryland on Aug. 31, 2025.

A body found along a Maryland highway belongs to a woman who disappeared last month, and police said a suspect has been arrested in connection with her mysterious death.

Prince George’s County Police Chief George identified the 19-year-old victim as Da'Cara Thompson.

During a press conference on Friday, Sept. 5, officials involved in the multi-jurisdictional case announced the arrest of 35-year-old Hugo Hernandez-Mendez on one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder in her death.

Circumstances around her killing, including how or why she died, remained under investigation, Maryland State Police told reporters during the press conference.

“Our entire state mourns the horrible loss,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement on Sept. 5, calling her death “an act of senseless violence.”

The victim’s father told police he last saw his daughter on Aug. 22, after she left their home in Lanham, an unincorporated community in Prince George’s County, about 13 miles northeast of Washington, D.C.

Daniel Thompson told CBS Baltimore that Da'Cara left their house about 10 p.m. local, and he texted her just before midnight.

It would be their last communication.

Video: Da'Cara Thompson’ willfully entered a vehicle’ according to police

Before her death, Nadar said, a preliminary investigation found that Thompson “willfully entered a vehicle” driven by Hernandez-Mendez during the early morning hours of Aug 23.

Video footage obtained by police showed Thompson walking up to an SUV, talking with Hernandez-Mendez in the driver’s seat, and then getting in, according to investigators.

Detectives on Friday continued to grapple over whether the two knew each other before she got in the SUV.

Hernandez-Mendez then drove to a home in the 12000 block of Kembridge Drive in Bowie, a large city in the same county about six miles northeast from Thompson’s house.

The chief said police believe the homicide took place in a bedroom in the suspect’s home, and her body was moved to a location to be disposed of.

Da'Cara Thompson’s body recovered in grassy area off highway

Police reported Thompson’s body was found by state police on Sunday, Aug. 31, in a grassy area off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County, which shares a western border with Prince George’s County, where the victim lived.

Nadar and other officials told reporters it appears Hernandez-Mendez reportedly acted alone in the killing, and Thompson’s body was found some seven miles from where the killing took place.

Who was Da'Cara Thompson?

Thompson graduated from St Charles High School and at the time of her death was working for a Prince George’s non-profit, officials said during the press conference.

According to the governor’s statement, she “raised her hand right out of high school to join our most recent cohort of Maryland Service Year Option members –patriotic Marylanders committed to public service.”

“She was a bright light in our state. 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.”

Man charged in Da'Cara Thompson killing jailed without bond

Police said Hernandez-Mendez was interviewed but offered “limited information” in the case.

The murder suspect was being held without bond on Friday, officials told reporters and is slated to appear back before a judge for a hearing on Monday, Sept. 8.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Body found along highway ID'd as missing girl, suspect charged with murder

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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