A Harford County jury has found 24-year-old Victor Martinez-Hernandez guilty on all counts in the August 2023 rape and murder of Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five from Bel Air, Maryland. The charges include first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sexual offense, and kidnapping. The verdict was reached in under an hour, underscoring the strength of the prosecution’s case.
Morin disappeared on August 5, 2023, after going for a jog on the Ma & Pa Trail. Her body was discovered the following day in a drainage culvert, having been beaten, raped, and murdered. DNA evidence collected from the crime scene was instrumental in identifying Martinez-Hernandez as the perpetrator.
Martinez-Hernandez, a Salvadoran national, had illegally entered the United States multiple times and was previously deported under Title 42. He was also linked to a March 2023 home invasion in Los Angeles involving the assault of a mother and her 9-year-old daughter.
The case garnered national attention, highlighting concerns over immigration enforcement and public safety. Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey described the crime as a “vicious attack” and emphasized the importance of the verdict in delivering justice for Morin’s family.
Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, with prosecutors seeking life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The Morin family expressed relief at the verdict, hoping it brings some measure of closure.
