In Bel Air, Maryland, a courtroom was filled with anticipation as the trial began for Victor Martinez-Hernandez, who is accused of the brutal murder of Rachel Morin last August. Prosecutors argue that this was not a random act but a premeditated attack, detailing how Morin’s body was found concealed in a drainage culvert after being violently assaulted.
Central to the state’s case is DNA evidence connecting Martinez-Hernandez to the crime. He is also wanted in El Salvador for allegedly murdering another woman before illegally entering the United States. The death of Morin, who was raped, beaten, and strangled, has reverberated through her community near Baltimore, sparking intense debate during the 2024 presidential race over immigration policies when Donald Trump spotlighted the case in his calls for heightened border security and extensive deportations.
Martinez-Hernandez, 24 years old, was apprehended last summer in Oklahoma. At that time, he resided in Bel Air, the same area where Morin frequently spent her evenings walking or running the trail she loved. Prosecutors assert that her habitual visits made her a target for an attack calculated beforehand.
While the prosecution paints a picture of a planned assault, the defense suggests an alternative narrative, suggesting a “crime of passion” rather than random violence. They argue that the police focus on Martinez-Hernandez based solely on DNA evidence and press jurors to consider unanswered questions around motive.
“The defendant had a plan,” said Alison Healey, Harford County State’s Attorney, as she introduced the case, citing a trail of blood leading to where Morin’s body was concealed. Conversely, Assistant Public Defender Sawyer Hicks posited that the crime was not the act of a stranger, implying a personal vendetta might be involved.
Despite receiving over 1,000 tips regarding the case, the defense points to DNA as the singular link to Martinez-Hernandez. However, the prosecution insists on the scientific accuracy and reliability of this DNA evidence. Prosecutors detailed how detectives collected DNA from Morin’s body, which led them to suspect Martinez-Hernandez, supported by a subsequent match from personal items he abandoned in Maryland.
Further incriminating evidence presented includes linking Martinez-Hernandez to a 2023 home invasion in Los Angeles and his suspicious online searches about Morin’s case following her death. His arrest in Tulsa, coming after he absconded from Maryland without notice, marks the culmination of efforts by law enforcement to track him down.
During Friday’s proceedings, Martinez-Hernandez appeared emotionless, listening through headphones for Spanish translation. The court also heard from Morin’s 14-year-old daughter, who struggled to hold back tears while discussing the impact of her mother’s sudden absence.
Rachel Morin, fondly remembered by her family, left behind five children. Her partner, Richard Tobin, shared personal testimony, describing the trail where she was found as one of her favorite places, a sanctuary for her.
The courtroom was filled with family members, some of whom have become advocates for stricter immigration enforcement, aligning with Trump’s policy proposals. This case has attracted significant media and political attention, with Trump reaching out to Morin’s family and her mother, Patty Morin, later campaigning with him and testifying before Congress in favor of strong southern border controls.
However, scholarly research consistently debunks any solid link between illegal immigration and increased violent crime rates. Despite suggestions from defense attorneys for a venue change due to the case’s publicity, Judge Yolanda Curtin ruled to proceed with the trial in its original location.