Harford County prosecutors have announced that the suspected killer of Rachel Morin, Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, will face Maryland's maximum penalty of life imprisonment without parole if convicted of her murder. Martinez-Hernandez, 23, is charged with first-degree murder, rape, and kidnapping in connection with Morin's tragic death.
Authorities have identified Martinez-Hernandez as a potential serial killer following his alleged involvement in a series of crimes against women in Central America and the United States. He is an illegal immigrant suspected not only in Morin's murder but also in a pair of sexual assaults in California and the brutal slaying of another woman in El Salvador.
Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, went out for a jog near her home in Bel Air, Maryland, but never returned. Her body was discovered in a culvert, showing signs of severe head trauma and bruises.
Under state law, prosecutors are obligated to notify the defendant if they intend to seek the maximum sentence. By pursuing life imprisonment without parole, the State aims to ensure that Martinez-Hernandez will never have the opportunity to harm anyone again.
Martinez-Hernandez, a suspected gang member with a violent history in multiple countries, is also linked to the murder of another woman in El Salvador in January 2023. After illegally entering the U.S. in February 2023, he was involved in a home invasion in Los Angeles the following month.
In August, Martinez-Hernandez allegedly attacked Rachel Morin in Maryland, leaving her in a ditch with brutal injuries. DNA evidence collected from the Los Angeles case later matched with Morin's case. After evading authorities for 10 months, he was apprehended at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is currently being held without bail.
The Morin family's attorney, Randolph Rice, expressed relief and gratitude for the State's decision to pursue life without parole for Martinez-Hernandez, emphasizing the importance of securing justice for Rachel and ensuring public safety.
