Conviction In Rachel Morin Murder Trial Makes Community Safer: Sheriff

Updated at 10:45 p.m.

Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, was found guilty Monday of killing Rachel Morin in Bel Air, reported the Baltimore Banner.

He was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sex offense and kidnapping. Prosecutors said Morin, a mother of five from Bel Air, was raped and beaten to death while jogging along the Ma and Pa Heritage Trail.

After nine days spent listening to witness testimony and opening and closing arguments, the jury deliberated for a little less than an hour before reaching a verdict. Family members had been present every day of the trial and those present exhaled in relief when the verdict was delivered, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Martinez-Hernandez, who showed no emotion, was handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom, The Sun said. Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey and Morin’s mother, Patty, hugged.

A sentencing date has not been set. Martinez-Hernandez will remain in the Harford County Detention Center without bail, the Banner said. The Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed a notice of its intention to seek life in prison without the possibility of parole.

After the conclusion of the trial, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said during a news conference, “This person, who took Rachel's life in such a horrific way, will be removed from society and never allowed to harm another human being again.”

Healey also spoke at the news conference held after the trial. She shared that Morin's time spent on the trail was "her peace," and she never would have imagined that on Aug. 5, 2023, she would set out on her favorite trail and never see or speak to her children again.

"Shortly after entering the trail, Rachel was brutally attacked by Victor Martinez-Hernandez, who was waiting in the woods. Rachel fought for her life, as she was pulled 150 feet from the main trail into the woods. This was shown by the health data contained on her phone and Apple watch," Healey said. "Evidence presented in trial proved that once concealed in the drainage culverts just off the trail, she was viciously beaten, raped and ultimately murdered at the hands of the defendant. DNA evidence recovered from various parts of Rachel's body matched the DNA of Victor Martinez-Hernandez.

"Despite his claims that he had never been to Maryland, the state produced multiple witnesses and business records proving that he was living and working in Bel Air at the time of the murder. Ultimately apprehended in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the defendant's phone was seized, examined and found to contain multiple photos and screenshots of Rachel, Harford County news coverage relating to the murder investigation and searches of her name," Healey added.

Earlier Story Below:

BEL AIR, MD — After the last state witness testified Friday that she found DNA on Rachel Morin's neck, left wrist, breasts and Apple watch that was a match for her accused killer, Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, the defense will begin making its case Monday.

The 24-year-old El Salvadoran national is on trial for murder and other crimes in the rape and beating death of Bel Air mom of five Morin, 37, who was found dead near a popular Bel Air walking trail in August 2023.

The judge recommended that closing arguments should be delivered Monday, too. Following closing arguments, the jury will deliberate the fate of Martinez Hernandez.

Over the past two weeks of the trial, prosecutors presented evidence and called 32 witnesses.

“This has been an emotionally grueling experience for Rachel’s family, but they remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice,” said Randolph Rice, attorney for Morin's mother, Patty. “The state has presented a thorough and powerful case. We now await the defense’s response and look ahead to closing arguments to bring this trial into its final stage.”

The last state witness, DNA and serology (blood serum) expert Tiffany Keener, said Friday that the probability of the DNA found on Morin's body belonging to someone other than Martinez Hernandez is impossibly low, about 1 in 900 octillion or 1 in 400 nonillion.

The DNA of four other males, including Morin's boyfriend at the time, Richard Tobin, were tested but were not a match.

Patch learned last week that family of Martinez Hernandez provided police with several clothing items, including five socks, that had DNA consistent with what was found at the crime scene. This ultimately led to his arrest in Tulsa in June 2004.

An interrogation video was played for the jury, according to WMAR, where Martinez Hernandez told authorities that his DNA was found at the crime scene because it had been planted there to harm him. He told investigations during the interrogation that someone wanted to hurt him, so they cut one of his hairs, collected some of his sweat and planted it there.

Martinez Hernandez said a woman named "Fiona" was jealous because he "already had a woman." Then, "Fiona" became an aggressive stalker that he had to report to the police, WBAL reported.

Martinez Hernandez denied hurting or murdering anyone during the interrogation and also denied knowing the name Rachel Morin, even though his phone showed video news reports about her murder case on his cell phone in the days leading up to his arrest, WBAL said.

Officials have said Martinez Hernandez 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.

Related:

• Multiple Blows To Head, Face Plus Strangulation Led To Morin's Death: Doctor Testifies
• Murder Suspect Seen With Shovel Before Rachel Morin Vanished: Trial Testimony
• Rachel Morin's Murder A 'Mother's Worst Nightmare'

• Martinez-Hernandez Trial's Starts In Death Of Rachel Morin: 'Mother's Worst Nightmare'
• Rachel Morin Murder Suspect's Trial To Begin Jury Selection
• Rachel Morin Murder Trial Calls For Road Closures, Increased Security In Bel Air