Prosecutors in Harford County, Maryland, have labeled the rape and murder of 37-year-old Rachel Morin, by an illegal alien, as the most gruesome case in the county’s history. Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, a 23-year-old from El Salvador with ties to the MS-13 gang, is accused of the crime.
Morin went missing on August 5, 2023, after setting out for a walk on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Bel Air. Her boyfriend, Richard Tobin, reported her missing when she did not return. Her body was found the next day with significant injuries, including multiple head wounds.
In June 2024, Martinez Hernandez was arrested by the Tulsa Police Department. He is accused not only of Morin’s murder but also of a violent assault on a mother and her nine-year-old daughter in Los Angeles. He is one of nearly two million illegal aliens who have crossed the southern border undetected under President Joe Biden’s administration.
The case against Martinez Hernandez is supported by evidence of a brutal attack, with prosecutors detailing how he allegedly raped and strangled Morin. This case has ignited intense criticism of current immigration policies. Morin’s half-sister, Erin Morin Layman, directly blamed the Biden administration, saying, “The Biden administration has the blood of Rachel Morin on their hands.”
Martinez Hernandez had previously been detained by Border Patrol agents three times in 2023 but was sent back to Mexico on each occasion. After his final deportation, he re-entered the U.S., committing further crimes in California before traveling to Maryland.
He is currently held without bail at the Harford County Detention Center, with an ICE detainer placed on him. Former President Donald Trump contacted Morin’s family to offer his condolences, with the family hoping this tragedy will lead to more stringent border control measures.
The murder of Rachel Morin has intensified the debate over immigration and border security, with many advocating for tougher policies to prevent similar tragedies. Her family remains focused on seeking justice and ensuring her story prompts meaningful change.
