Man Convicted of Brutal Murder of Maryland Mother Rachel Morin

Bel Air, Maryland — Victor Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty Monday of first-degree premeditated murder and other charges in the murder of Rachel Morin, a beloved mother of five. The jury reached their verdict after less than an hour of deliberations following closing arguments in Harford County Circuit Court.

Morin was discovered dead on August 6, 2023, the day after she had gone for a jog on the Ma & Pa Trail. Investigators revealed that she had been brutally attacked and her body was located near a drainage culvert just off the trail. Authorities arrested Martinez-Hernandez in June 2024, nearly ten months after Morin’s murder, in Oklahoma.

Prosecutor Alison Healey emphasized the brutality of the crime when discussing the gravity of the jury’s decision. “This case shook our Harford County community and robbed a family of their daughter, sister, mother, and friend,” Healey said. “While no verdict or sentence can ever bring Rachel back, I am proud of the work that has been done to ensure that justice was served.”

The trial included critical evidence tying Martinez-Hernandez to Morin’s murder, including DNA that also matched evidence from an unrelated child assault case in Los Angeles earlier in 2023. Healey argued, “You don’t accomplish a rape and a murder in four to six minutes unless you have a plan,” highlighting the prosecutor’s belief that the act was premeditated.

In his defense, attorney Marcus Jenkins argued a lack of motive and pointed to another potential suspect—a tall man seen near Morin just before her disappearance. “Martinez-Hernandez didn’t know Rachel and never communicated with her,” Jenkins stated. The defense rested its case after calling one witness for a brief period and insisted that the evidence did not conclusively point to his client.

After the verdict, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler criticized immigration policies that allowed Martinez-Hernandez to enter the United States illegally from El Salvador, linking this case to broader discussions about immigration and public safety. “It shouldn’t be political, but the failure here is the immigration system,” Gahler said. He noted that Martinez-Hernandez had previously been apprehended by border authorities on several occasions before committing the crime in Maryland.

The case had garnered national attention, especially as political figures commented on the implications of Morin’s death in relation to immigration policies. President Donald Trump used the case to criticize former President Joe Biden‘s administration for allowing undocumented immigrants to enter the country.

In court, emotions ran high as Morin’s family recounted their loss. Her 14-year-old daughter, Violet Custer, recalled the last text message she received from her mother shortly before she vanished. Morin’s boyfriend, Richard Tobin, expressed his heartache while describing his frantic search for her when she failed to respond.

As the prosecution and defense made their final arguments, Healey showcased crucial evidence, including DNA findings and timelines leading up to the crime. The detailed forensic analysis and witness testimony ultimately led to the conviction of Martinez-Hernandez, who is now facing life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The jury’s decision marks a pivotal moment for Morin’s grieving family and for the community still reeling from the violent crime. “I hope that [Judge Yolanda Curtin] considers the violent and brutal nature of this attack,” Healey said, voicing hopes that the judge would impose the maximum sentence allowed by law.