Body Found amid Search for Missing Teen Who Vanished After Texting Dad

As the search for a missing 19-year-old Maryland woman continued, police announced that a body had been found.

The family of Dacara Thompson, from Lanham, reported her missing on Aug. 23, the Prince George’s County Police Department said in a statement.

Police located her vehicle in Hyattsville the following day, Interim Chief George Nader said during a news conference on Wednesday, Sept. 3. He also announced that officials had found a body, but stressed that the identity of the deceased has yet to be confirmed.

“That body was located just off of Route 50 in Anne Arundel County,” Chief Nader said. “At this point, there has not been a confirmation, but the characteristics are similar so we’re exploring that.”

In a separate statement, state police said that they came across the body after receiving a report about a disabled vehicle on August 31, which they’ve subsequently determined “does not belong to the deceased and is unrelated to the investigation.”

In addition to awaiting positive identification, state police said that autopsy results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner remain pending.

“Anytime someone goes missing in our community, we take it seriously,” said Chief Nader. “Out of respect for the family, we are going to ask that we give them some privacy as we process and attempt to confirm whether or not this is our person.”

“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” added County Executive Aisha Braveboy at another point during the news conference.

A joint investigation remains ongoing.

Dacara’s father said his daughter left his home on the night of Aug. 22, saying she was off to get gas, NBC affiliate WRC-TV reported.

Speaking with CBS affiliate WUSA, her father said that after an hour went by and she hadn’t returned he gave her a call, but she didn’t pick up. By 11:50 p.m., he sent her a text saying he was going to bed and just wanted to check on her.

He told the outlet that she responded immediately and wrote, “I should be back soon. I love you too. Goodnight <3”. His attempts to reach her the following day were unsuccessful.

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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 Saturday, 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,” her mother said. “She’s our daughter, our light, and we won’t stop until we find her.”