Rachel Morin Murder Trial Calls For Road Closures, Increased Security In Bel Air

BEL AIR, MD — The trial of Victor Martinez-Hernandez — the man charged with murder in the death of Rachel Morin — starts Tuesday, and will bring increased security around the Circuit Courthouse on Main Street, along with traffic delays and road closures.

"The closure is being done to help with increasing security and safety during a court trial in a high profile criminal case," said the Bel Air Police Department.

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.

A Harford County judge denied a change of venue requested last month by Martinez-Hernandez, who is 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 argued at last month's motion hearing 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.

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

Read more:

• Rachel Morin Case: Judge Rules On Moving Trial Out Of Harford County
• Rachel Morin Murder Case Has Hearing Bumped, Trial Starts In April 2025
• Rachel Morin's Daughter Sues Grandmother Over GoFundMe Proceeds
• Rachel Morin Case: Harford County Prosecutor Seeks Life Sentence Without Parole
• Clue Uncovered On Rachel Morin's Birthday Led To Suspect, Arrest
• Murder Charge Filed In MD Mom Rachel Morin's Death
• Suspect In Rachel Morin Killing Hid In MD For Months During Investigation: Court Documents
• Rachel Morin Family Asks For Worldwide Prayers For Justice
• Rachel Morin's Family Mourns Loss Of 'Bright, Beautiful Spark'