The search for Dacara Thompson, a missing 19-year-old African American teen from Lanham, Maryland, took a grim turn when police confirmed they had located a body while investigating her disappearance.
Thompson was reported missing on August 23 by her family, and the Prince George’s County Police Department has been working closely with state authorities to track down leads. Although a body was discovered, officials have not yet confirmed its identity.
Interim Chief George Nader announced during a September 3 news conference that the remains were found just off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County. “At this point, there has not been a confirmation, but the characteristics are similar, so we’re exploring that,” he said. State police clarified that the body was found after officers responded to a report of a disabled vehicle on August 31, though they later determined that the vehicle was unrelated to the case.
According to People, investigators are still waiting for positive identification from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which is also conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Chief Nader asked the public and media to allow the family privacy during this difficult period, stressing that every missing person case is taken seriously. “Dacara is 19 years old and so even though technically she’s an adult, she’s someone’s child, someone’s baby,” added County Executive Aisha Braveboy, who expressed sympathy for the Thompson family.
Family members have described the timeline of Dacara’s disappearance in interviews with local outlets. Her father shared that she left his home late on August 22, saying she was going to get gas. After an hour without hearing from her, he called, but she didn’t answer. Later that night, she texted him, “I should be back soon. I love you too. Goodnight <3.” That was the last time he heard from her, and repeated attempts to reach her the following day failed.
Her mother, Carmen Thompson, wrote on a GoFundMe page that surveillance cameras captured Dacara parking her white 2013 Ford Edge SUV in Hyattsville on August 23. Footage shows her walking toward Riggs Road before vanishing. “All she had with her was her phone, and now even that lead has gone cold,” Carmen explained. “For Dacara not to call or text us for a week is completely unlike her — her silence has left us fearing the worst.”
Carmen described her daughter as “a vibrant, loving 19-year-old with her whole life ahead of her,” saying she remains determined not to give up hope. “She’s our daughter, our light, and we won’t stop until we find her,” she wrote. The joint investigation by local and state authorities remains ongoing as the family and community wait for answers.
SOURCE: blacknews.com