The defendant accused of killing a mother of five in Maryland is set to go on trial in October, with prosecutors seeking a sentence of life without parole.
Last August, Rachel Morin, 37, was tragically raped and murdered while jogging on the Ma & Pa Trail in Harford County, Maryland. Her case gained national attention as investigators, along with her family, worked to find the perpetrator. The law firm representing Morin’s family initiated The Rachel Morin Reward Fund, offering a $35,000 reward for any information.
An extensive 10-month investigation led to the recent arrest of Victor Martinez-Hernandez, a 23-year-old citizen of El Salvador, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He faces multiple charges related to Morin’s death, including first-degree murder, rape, and kidnapping.
Authorities linked Martinez-Hernandez to Morin’s murder using advanced DNA technology after he evaded capture for months. He has been extradited to Maryland, where he is currently held without bail pending trial.
The suspect was in the U.S. illegally at the time of the crime and had been deported from the country three times before. Police suspect Martinez-Hernandez of another murder in El Salvador and a home invasion in Los Angeles.
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During the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Morin’s family took the political stage, with Rachel’s brother, Michael, addressing the audience about his sister’s tragic death and its political implications.
“Open borders are often seen as compassionate, but there is nothing compassionate about allowing violent criminals into our country and taking mothers away from their kids,” he stated. “My sister’s death could have been prevented.”
Martinez-Hernandez is being represented by the Maryland Public Defender’s Office and was scheduled for an initial appearance on July 22, which was later canceled. Both sides are preparing for a motions hearing on Oct. 4 before the trial commences on Oct. 23. Martinez-Hernandez is considered innocent until proven guilty.