Found Deceased MD - Rachel Morin, 37, left for walk on Ma & Pa Trail 6pm, car found at Williams St entrance, Bel Air, 5 Aug 2023 #3 *Arrest*

[Charlot123]

I doubt CODIS looks for matches with a close relatives. That is what the genealogy matching labs do.

The most likely scenario is, DNA found on Rachel was matched to a relative in Maryland who had submitted DNA to one of the genealogy databases. LE went and talked with that relative, who said that Victor was staying with them. LE obtained some of Victors clothing that was left behind at this relative house, which they used to obtain a positive match to the DNA found on Rachel. LE then knew Victor was the perpetrator.

I think they did build "parallel trees", hence the trip to El Salvador.

 

[Charlot123]

I'm not sure. My thoughts are, if researchers are collecting DNA from isolated communities for some project, I'm not sure how or why those research results would end up in a commercial genealogy database, or be made available to forensic DNA analysts.

For example, I recently came across a cool story about a project that used the DNA of villagers living around the famous ruin Chichen Itza, to prove they are mostly direct descendents of the people who lived in Chichen Itza during its heyday, 3k or more years ago. But I doubt the DNA submitted for that specific, local project, would be made available, or used by, the big DNA collectors.

Personally, I think there's been some general population studies, by country, that enable commercial genealogical sites to identify DNA as, say, German, or Mexican, but they can't get closer than that (plus, there's nothing to say your germanic dna didn't come from someone in the Roman Legion who was part of the army that invaded ancient England, or whatever.) The turmoil of population movements isn't new.

JMO

Considering that El Salvador is a tiny country with high population density, there might be migration to Guatemala or Honduras, I presume. So his relatives could, in fact, be living in the neighboring country. Maybe this prolonged the whole identification process.

In Germany or GB, they can identify what lands or counties the ancestors lived in. Not sure about Mexico, yet.

 

[Mica]

JUL 12, 2024

Harford County State's Attorney pushing for maximum sentence for Rachel Morin murder suspect

A new court filing from Harford County State's Attorney, Alison Healey, is pushing for the maximum sentence if the suspect accused of killing Rachel Morin is convicted.

www.cbsnews.com

[...]

"We do know that he was here for quite a period of time following her homicide in the Bel Air area and, in fact, worked at two local businesses," Sheriff Jeff Gahler said.

The sheriff wouldn't say which businesses, but did reveal they were restaurants.

He also told WJZ Martinez Hernandez has friends in Bel Air, but was able to stay under the radar to those people and the rest of the community.

"We've uncovered nothing, to my knowledge, that anyone else in knowing before or after the fact what he had done here," Sheriff Gahler said.

[...]

This makes me wonder if he saw Rachel in town prior to the murder and then stalked her before deciding to rape and kill her.

 

[Knox]

This makes me wonder if he saw Rachel in town prior to the murder and then stalked her before deciding to rape and kill her.

Or even at the park itself. I think either is a good possibility.

 

[steeltowngirl]

<modsnip>

Morin family to attend RNC; suspect could face max penalty

Attorneys for Rachel Morin's family are seeking the most severe penalty under Maryland law for the man accused of killing her in August 2023.

www.wbaltv.com

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 15, 2024

Rachel Morin Homicide Suspect's Initial Court Appearance Canceled: Prosecution

Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, 23, the suspect charged in Bel Air mom Rachel Morin's death, had his initial court appearance canceled.

patch.com

The initial appearance in court for Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, the suspect in the homicide and rape of Bel Air mom Rachel Morin, was canceled Monday. Instead, several court dates were set.

[...]

The Maryland Public Defenders office entered their appearance in the Harford County Circuit Court case number C-12-CR-24-000662 Monday, July 15, and during a closed-door scheduling conference, presiding Judge Yolanda L. Curtin set the following dates:

• Motions Hearing: Oct. 4, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. (EST) - The court will address various pretrial motions, including motions to suppress evidence or dismiss charges, among other legal arguments.
• Pre-Trial Conference: Oct. 22, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. (EST) - This hearing will allow the defendant to enter a guilty plea or advise the court if he intends to proceed to a bench or jury trial.
• Trial Date: Oct. 23, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. (EST) - The state prosecution and the defendant will proceed to trial on this date.

[...]

Initial court appearance changed for suspect in rape and murder of Rachel Morin | WBAL Baltimore News

The initial court appearance for the suspect in the rape and murder of Rachel Morin was changed. Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, 23, was expected to make an initial appearance later this month. New

www.wbal.com

Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, faces six charges in the case. Charges include first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree rape, second-degree rape, third-degree sex offense and kidnapping.

 

[justme11]

Rachel's brother, Michael Morin, is speaking right now at the Republican National Convention....9:15p Central. I'll look later and see if I can find a video of it.

 

[CHEL]

Rachel’s brother is currently speaking at the Republican National Convention.

 

[justtrish]

Rachel's brother, Michael Morin, is speaking right now at the Republican National Convention....9:15p Central. I'll look later and see if I can find a video of it.

I saw it and he did a great job!

 

[Friday Fan]

Amazing that this was solved! IGG is very difficult when it crosses borders. And especially when it is with a developing country where they don't routinely do consumer home tests.

I wonder if his family/law enforcement in El Salvador had his DNA on file due to his case down there?

Awesome!

 

[Tricia]

This is NOT a political discussion.
Murderers come from across the border, inside the border, outside the border; they may come from outer space from all I know. However, discussing the border issue on this thread will lead to nothing but political arguments.
Please stick to the facts of the case that show the suspect is the killer and go from there.
Tricia

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 22, 2024

Rachel Morin Honor And Remembrance Walk Planned By Family Members For August

The Rachel Morin Honor and Remembrance Walk has been announced by family members. It will be held in August along the Ma and Pa Trail.

patch.com

A memorial walk will be held Aug. 4 at 3 p.m. for slain mom of five Rachel Morin.

Hosted by her family, the Rachel Morin Honor and Remembrance Walk will start at the William Street entrance of the Ma and Pa Trail near where Morin's body was found after she went missing in August 2023. According to the family's event post on Facebook, there will be a family statement and prayer before the walk begins to the bridge. People can lay down flowers and share a memory of Morin at that time if they'd like.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 24, 2024

Family of Rachel Morin to hold remembrance walk to mark 1 year since her murder

"We invite everyone to join us in remembering Rachel, to honor her memory and the light she brought to our lives."

www.wmar2news.com

Lawyers representing the Morin family say that Patty Morin, Rachel's mother, will address the crowd before commencing with the walk.

She is inviting any and everyone to participate.

"We invite everyone to join us in remembering Rachel, to honor her memory and the light she brought to our lives. It has been a year since her tragic loss, and we hope this walk will bring our community together in love and remembrance," said Patty.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 31, 2024

104 cameras installed along Ma & Pa Trail

Harford County has finished installing a state-of-the-art, million-dollar security system along the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air where Rachel Morin was raped and murdered almost a year ago.

www.wmar2news.com

If you are anywhere in a two-mile span of the Ma & Pa Trail from the Tollgate Road Station to Williams Street, a camera will now be recording your every move, and following the Rachel Morin murder there almost a year ago, those who use the trail welcome the added security.

[...]

“This system that we have now is the most advanced in the state,” said Harford County Executive Robert Cassilly, “It’s a fantastic system that includes a total of 104 cameras mounted on 26 poles. Each pole with four cameras in enclosure.”

[...]

In-depth look at the security cameras along Maryland trail where Rachel Morin was murdered

More than 100 cameras were installed on 26 poles along Harford County's Ma & Pa Trail in the months after Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five, was found murdered.

www.cbsnews.com

[...]

The cameras use AI to detect potential suspicious activity or incidents on the trail, like if someone is having a medical emergency or is being attacked. When something happens, the system sends county leaders an alert so they can check it out.

The system can also be used to search for persons of interest by inputting certain characteristics, including clothing or hair color.

[...]

So far, the cameras have been used twice to help police investigations.

The cameras were utilized a month after they were installed for a report of stolen construction equipment and again earlier this month after a woman was reported missing.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

Rachel Morin, a young mother of 5, went missing along the Ma & Pa trail on August 5th of last year. The very next day her body was discovered.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820124745117122829

Media Advisory: Media Parking for the Rachel Morin Honor & Remembrance Walk will be at McComas Funeral Home, 50 W Broadway, Bel Air, MD 21014. Walk begins at 3. Rain or Shine.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820139924429144525

 

[PommyMommy]

Today’s remembrance walk in honor of Rachel Morin—marking one year since her murder—was a moving tribute to her memory, and to the strength and resilience of her family.

Rachel’s spirit will live on in our hearts, and her family will always have the love and support of this entire community. Thank you to all those who joined us today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820205172158566889

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Today’s remembrance walk in honor of Rachel Morin—marking one year since her murder—was a moving tribute to her memory, and to the strength and resilience of her family.

Rachel’s spirit will live on in our hearts, and her family will always have the love and support of this entire community. Thank you to all those who joined us today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820205172158566889

Just so sorry about what happened to her.
And actually it hot me that it was a whole year .
But we did have that gap on time to when they finally caught this evil punk.

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 4, 2024

Family and community honor Rachel Morin with remembrance walk on anniversary of her murder

Monday, August 5 marks one year since the body of Rachel Morin was found along the Ma and Pa Trail in Harford County.On Sunday, family, friends, strangers, and

foxbaltimore.com

Rachel's mother Patty Morin, stopped at several photos, reflecting on her daughter's memory.

“You see that. That’s Rachel’s character. She’s 4 years old, she picked out this dress. It’s gold and lace, as a little girl’s dress can get," said Morin.

A close friend of Rachel's recalled growing up with Rachel.

“I have so many stories, ever since I can remember. All the way back from visiting, having a million sleepovers playing princesses and dress up. And Rachel trying to do a glam over on me too," said the friend.