Rachel Morin Murder Suspect's Trial To Begin Jury Selection

BEL AIR, MD — During the final pretrial hearing in the Rachel Morin murder case Monday, attorneys for Victor Martinez-Hernandez argued again that he cannot receive a fair trial in Harford County, which the trial judge denied.

Martinez-Hernandez's defense team argues that the pretrial publicity is so intense he can't get a fair trial, and suggested sequestering the jury for the duration of the trial, which the judge rejected, according to FOX Baltimore.

A Harford County judge denied a change of venue requested last month by Martinez-Hernandez, who has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape of Bel Air mother of five Morin, 37. A plea offered by the prosecution also was rejected.

The defense has repeatedly argued that the pretrial publicity "tainted the jury pool" in Harford County, making a fair trial impossible. The prosecution responded that no one in the country hasn't heard about the case. The judge agreed with the statement.

Randolph Rice, attorney for Morin's mother, Patty, told WBAL he believes the court will be able to find and seat an impartial jury.

"They've got over 200,000 residents of Harford County. There's people all the time that I run and ask, 'Have you ever heard of the Rachel Morin case?' And they say they haven't. So, I have no doubt that they will be able to hear the facts of this case," Rice told WBAL.

On Monday, Rice was accused of hindering efforts to seat an impartial jury through his relationship with the press. The defense, prosecutors, and judge have all asked Rice to stop speaking publicly about the case, FOX said.

“I have asked him repeatedly to stop talking to the media,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey. "Even a day after receiving an email from me, he ignored my request."

Morin's body was found along the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air in August 2023, several days after she was reported missing. She frequently jogged the trail near where she was found raped and beaten to death. Officials have said Martinez-Hernandez, 24, of El Salvador, entered the United States as an undocumented immigrant. Martinez-Hernandez also has been linked by DNA to a home invasion and sexual assault in southern California of a 9-year-old girl and her mother.

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said at a news conference following the suspect's arrest in Oklahoma that Martinez-Hernandez also is a suspect in the homicide of a young woman in El Salvador in July 2023, one month before Morin's death

Jury selection starts Tuesday morning and will last three days. The judge said around 400 potential jurors will be called for duty in the trial, with groups of 120-130 reporting each day Tuesday through Thursday.

The Bel Air Police Department has enhanced security around the courthouse for the trial.

Courtland Street and Office Street between Bond and Main streets will be closed to vehicle traffic. Local businesses will not be impacted and will still be accessible to customers, the police department said. Road closures will be in effect only during courthouse hours.

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