Police in Bel Air, Maryland, have identified the suspect in the 2023 murder of Rachel Morin, a mother of five who was found dead on a trail in Harford County last summer. After 10 months of investigation, law enforcement officials were able to make an arrest in the case thanks to DNA evidence and tracking.
Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler announced the arrest of Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, a 23-year-old man who will be charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape in connection with Morin’s death. Martinez-Hernandez was apprehended in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after being linked to the crime through DNA evidence recovered at the crime scene.
According to authorities, Morin was attacked while hiking on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail before being killed in a drainage culvert nearby. The investigation into the murder revealed that Martinez-Hernandez had entered the US illegally from El Salvador, where he was wanted for another murder.
Despite having DNA evidence and video footage from a previous break-in linked to the suspect, law enforcement officials were unable to identify Martinez-Hernandez until May. Following a two-week investigation, Martinez-Hernandez was located in Tulsa, leading to an arrest warrant being issued on Friday.
The victim’s family, including her mother Patricia Morin, expressed gratitude towards investigators and the media for their efforts in finding the suspect. Patricia Morin thanked law enforcement for their persistence in seeking justice for her daughter and expressed relief that the suspect had been apprehended.
The motive behind the killing remains unclear, with authorities indicating that Martinez-Hernandez may have acted alone in the crime. The investigation is ongoing, and no extradition date has been set for the suspect as of now.
Overall, the arrest of Martinez-Hernandez brings a sense of closure to the Morin family and the community, as they continue to mourn the loss of Rachel Morin. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of DNA evidence in solving crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.