[ad_1]
DaCara Thompson was last seen on Aug. 22.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. — Prince George’s County police announced a lead Wednesday in the search for 19-year-old DaCara Thompson.
The grim update came from Interim Chief George Nader, who said that a dead body recovered on Sunday in Anne Arundel County has characteristics that are similar to DaCara’s.
“The characteristics were similar,” Nader said “We have not yet confirmed that this is the missing, I want to make that very clear.”
He continued “at this point there has not been a confirmation, but the characteristics are similar, so we’re exploring that. We’re working hand in hand with the Maryland State Police Department.”
The body was found shortly before 5 p.m. on August 31, according to Maryland State Police.
Troopers had responded to a call for a disabled vehicle, on Route 50 in Annapolis. However, once there, they spotted a woman’s body in a grassy area off of the highway. State Police say the disabled vehicle does not belong to the woman who was found, and is unrelated to the investigation.
He said that Maryland State Police will continue to handle the death investigation for the body that was found on Sunday, Nader said, while the Prince George’s County Police Department continued its missing persons investigation.
County Executive Aisha Braveboy called Thompson’s case “tragic,” especially given the woman’s age.
“19-years-old,” Braveboy said on Sunday. “Even though technically she’s an adult, she’s somebody’s child, she’s somebody’s baby. So, our hearts go out to her entire family. And we will continue to work diligently to find a resolution.”
Braveboy added that her office has been in touch with Thompson’s family.
“We really searched hard for DaCara,” Nader shared, although the chief emphasized that the missing persons case was ongoing.
The press conference lasted only about four minutes, with Nader and Braveboy both vowing to continue the missing persons investigation.
“Further than what we’ve told you, we don’t have any additional information,” Nader said.
The dead body which Nader said resembled Thompson was found in a grassy area off Route 50 in Anne Arundel County, PGPD wrote in a news release on Wednesday, sent out moments after Braveboy and Nader’s press conference.
“At this time, the identity of the deceased woman has not been confirmed,” PGPD wrote. “Investigators are also awaiting autopsy result from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine cause and manner of death.”
Last seen on Aug. 22 and reported missing on Aug. 23, the Maryland teenager’s disappearance was a shock to her family.
Daniel Thompson says his daughter DaCara Thompson, who lives with him, left their house in Lanham, around 10 p.m. “She just said I’m going out. I’ll be back,” he told WUSA9.
But, when she didn’t return about an hour later, he called her, but no response. At 11:50 p.m., he sent her a text.
He wrote, “I love you. I’m about to go to bed. I was just checking on you <3”.
She responded via text, “I got gas & I’m out. I should be back soon. I love you too. Goodnight <3”.
He told WUSA9 he woke up around 10 a.m. the next morning, and didn’t see his daughter or her car parked outside. He called and texted her, but got no response. He checked with her mother, but she also hadn’t heard from their daughter.
Although her phone had been disconnected from the find my phone app, they were able to see the last location it had been turned on ─ the intersection of Jasmine Terrace and Riggs Road in Hyattsville.
Her father told WUSA9 that as soon as he pulled up, he spotted his daughter’s car, parked the wrong direction and in front of a fire hydrant. He called police, who he says told him he should take the car home.
“They said it’s a chance it would be towed if it stayed there, because it was parked in front of a fire hydrant. So they said just take the car when she comes out in the morning, if she sees the car gone, she gonna have to call because the car is gone, whether she thinks it’s towed or stolen,” said Daniel Thompson.
Inside the car, he found her purse. “It had $60 cash in it. It had her driver’s license and debit cards, bank cards, and her house keys,” he said. Her phone and the fob for her car were missing.
A neighbor shared surveillance footage with the family and police, showing someone who appears to be DaCara getting out of the SUV that was parked on Jasmine Terrace and walking toward Riggs Road.
Since then, her family, friends, and community have been searching all over for her.
Her family also set up a GoFundMe Page to help with costs and supporting the family.
Anyone with information about the investigation, is asked to contact Prince George’s County Police at (301) 772-8970.
[ad_2]