A fugitive from El Salvador has been convicted of raping and murdering Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother who was found dead shortly after she disappeared while out for her morning jog.
The jury deliberated for less than hour before convicting Victor Martinez-Hernandez on charges including first-degree murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sex offense and kidnapping, the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office announced on Monday.
The verdict came nearly two years after Morin’s naked and badly beaten body was discovered on Aug. 6, 2023 in a tunnel along the Ma & Pa Heritage hiking trail in Bel Air. She was reported missing the day prior by her husband, who became concerned when Morin failed to return from her run.
A months-long manhunt for Morin’s killer followed, which ultimately culminated in the arrest of Martinez-Hernandez. He was taken into custody on June 14, 2024 in Tulsa, Okla. and his trial began earlier this month.
Prosecutors said he hid in a drainage culvert and ambushed Morin as she ran by him the morning of August 5. He then dragged her further into the woods, where he raped her and beat her with rocks.
Alison Healey, the Harford County state’s attorney, noted that Martinez-Hernandez left DNA “on every part of her body” and all over the crime scene, which helped authorities identify him as the suspect in Morin’s murder. Investigators also used it to link him to a past home invasion in Los Angeles.
Martinez-Hernandez is additionally accused of entering the United States illegally after allegedly killing another woman in his home country. Few details have been provided about that case.
“It is my sincere hope that today’s verdict brings some peace and closure to the entire Morin family,” Healey said. “While no verdict or sentence can ever bring Rachel back, I am proud of the work that was done to ensure that justice was served, and that Victor Martinez-Hernandez will never again be a threat to another woman in this lifetime.”
Morin, 37, left behind five children.
With News Wire Services
