An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of a Maryland mother that occurred in 2023. The suspect, a 23-year-old man identified as Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, was apprehended at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by local authorities. Martinez-Hernandez, a citizen of El Salvador, was taken into custody on a trespassing charge but was later found to be wanted in connection with a rape and murder case in Maryland.
Authorities revealed that Martinez-Hernandez faces charges of first-degree rape and first-degree murder in the Maryland case. Following his arrest, he signed a waiver allowing Maryland authorities to extradite him from Oklahoma for prosecution. The extradition process is expected to take at least 10 days, according to Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler.
The suspect is believed to have committed multiple crimes after illegally entering the United States in February 2023. One of the crimes he is suspected of is the rape and murder of Rachel Morin, a mother of five from Maryland. Morin was tragically killed along a hiking trail in Bel Air in August 2023.
Investigators were able to track down Martinez-Hernandez after uncovering a lead on May 20, which would have been Morin's 38th birthday. The breakthrough came from DNA evidence left at a crime scene in Los Angeles, where the suspect was involved in a brutal attack on a 9-year-old girl and her mother during a home invasion in March 2023.
The FBI's investigative genetic genealogy team played a crucial role in identifying Martinez-Hernandez, tracing his DNA to potential family members and even traveling to El Salvador for further investigation. The FBI expressed condolences to Morin's family and friends, acknowledging the pain they have endured.
During a news conference, Patricia Morin, Rachel's mother, expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their dedication in solving the case. She thanked the media for keeping her daughter's story alive and shared her relief at the arrest of the suspect. The father of Rachel's eldest daughter also spoke, expressing a mix of emotions at the news of the arrest.
Alison Healey, Harford County State's Attorney, will lead the prosecution once Martinez-Hernandez is transported back to Harford County. The community awaits justice for Rachel Morin and closure for her loved ones as the legal proceedings move forward.
