Man accused of killing missing Maryland teen ordered held without bond
Upper Marlboro, MD – A 35-year-old man charged in the death of a missing teenager from Prince George’s County will remain in custody without bond after a brief court appearance on Monday.
Hugo Hernandez-Mendez was arrested Thursday in connection with the killing of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson, whose body was discovered beneath the South River Bridge in Annapolis after she was reported missing on August 23.
The hearing, held virtually after 1 p.m., lasted only minutes. Hernandez-Mendez’s public defender waived his right to argue for bond and instead requested he remain held, a move Judge Katina Steuart upheld. The judge ruled there would be no pretrial release given the seriousness of the allegations.
Thompson’s family filled the courtroom, wearing shirts that carried the message “JUSTICE FOR DACARA.” Her mother, Carmen Thompson, spoke after the hearing, asking the community to remember her daughter with compassion. She pushed back against negative online speculation about Dacara’s character, urging the public not to rely on rumors.
The investigation into Thompson’s disappearance and death remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare for the next stage of the case.
——
Key Points
- Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, 35, ordered held without bond in death of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson
- Thompson’s body was found under the South River Bridge after she went missing on August 23
- Family attended court wearing shirts demanding justice and called for respect for Thompson’s memory
