'Possible Connection' Between Body Found And Missing Dacara Thompson

LANHAM, MD — Prince George's County Police detectives continue to investigate the disappearance of 19-year-old Dacara Thompson of Lanham after her father said she left his home on Aug. 22 to get gas but never made it home.

Her family reported her missing to police on Aug. 23.

The Maryland State Police have opened a death investigation after a female’s body was located in a grassy area off Route 50 near Annapolis shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday. The body was found near a vehicle, but the investigation indicates the disabled vehicle does not belong to the unidentified woman and is unrelated to the investigation into Thompson's whereabouts.

The investigation into the woman's body has revealed a possible connection to the Thompson investigation, officials said Wednesday.

"At this time (Sept. 3), the identity of the deceased woman has not been confirmed. Investigators are also awaiting autopsy results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine cause and manner of death. The PGPD is working jointly with Maryland State Police on this investigation," the police department said.

Nader said that "behind every missing person report is a worried family desperate for answers."

"Our dedicated detectives of the missing persons unit are committed to locating those who are missing and getting those questions answered,” Nader said.

Speaking with CBS affiliate WUSA, Dacara's father said that after an hour had passed the night she went missing without her return, he called her, but she didn't pick up. By 11:50 p.m., he texted her to say he was going to bed and wanted to check on her. He told WUSA she responded immediately and wrote, "I should be back soon. I love you too. Goodnight <3."

Police found her vehicle in Hyattsville the day after she was reported missing, PGPD Interim Chief George Nader said during a news conference Sept. 3. She was last seen in Langley Park and her car was found two days later at Jasmine Terrace and Riggs Road, parked in front of a fire hydrant pointed in the wrong direction, right across from the Chillum-Aldephi Volunteer Fire Station, reports said. Her wallet and house keys were in her vehicle.

Dacara's mother, Carmen Thompson, wrote in a GoFundMe that her daughter was last seen on surveillance footage parking her 2013 white Ford Edge SUV in Hyattsville on Aug. 23.

"She was seen walking toward Riggs Road, and then she vanished. All she had with her was her phone, and now even that lead has gone cold," Carmen wrote. "For Dacara not to call or text us for a week is completely unlike her — she’s always been in touch, and her silence has left us fearing the worst. Dacara is a vibrant, loving 19-year-old with her whole life ahead of her. She’s our daughter, our light, and we won’t stop until we find her."

Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy said Wednesday that "the entire county has been praying for Dacara and her loving family."

"Dacara is 19 years old and so even though technically she's an adult, she's someone's child, someone's baby, and so our heart goes out to her entire family. Once we learned that Dacara was missing, I asked to be kept up to date on the investigation," Braveboy said during the Sept. 3 news conference. "We intend to get her family and our community the answers they deserve."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Maryland State Police at 1-866-7LOCKUP, Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto a mobile device) or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).