GUILTY 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*

[arielilane]

@Dylan_Segelbaum


Now, Keener is going through each of the items she performed serology and DNA testing on.


12:10 PM · Apr 11, 2025

 

[arielilane]

Eastern Time


@Dylan_Segelbaum


We're breaking for lunch until 1:45 p.m.


12:37 PM · Apr 11, 2025

 

[arielilane]

Keener is back on the stand.

DNA collected off five black socks that Martinez-Hernandez left at his cousin's apartment was consistent with swabs taken Morin's neck, Keener testified.

Keener testified that Martinez-Hernandez's DNA was found on Morin's left wrist, neck and breasts.

His DNA was also on her Apple Watch.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910767811267617214

 

[arielilane]

@BlairSabolTV


During cross— the defense makes the point that Martinez-Hernandez was calm & not anymore nervous than anyone else in his position might be. But during redirect— Det. Golden notes the swaying, body language shows he was more nervous when asked about DNA & his family


12:46 PM · Apr 11, 2025


As I predicted… today is all about DNA. And it’s wild. We’ve got numbers like Octillion, Quadrillion, Nomillion…. I’ll update soon when I can. A lot to take in.


3:00 PM · Apr 11, 2025

 

[arielilane]

Regret the redundancy, just wanted to provide another reporter's perspective:


TRIAL DAY 8 Rachel Morin caseAfter 5 full days of testimony, it looks like the state is close to resting its case. We haven’t gotten much into the DNA evidence but I’m sure that’s coming soon.
Follow along for more updates today





Continuing with Det. Golden & the interrogation videos of Victor Martinez-Hernandez after his arrest. He denies knowing the name “Rachel Morin.”He denies ever being in MD or having family there (who told police that he lived with them)



Golden asks if he knows about DNA. Then proceeds to ask him how his DNA matches that which was found at the crime scene. The defendant suggests that someone took his DNA and could have used it to harm him.


The defendant is shown a photo taken of him & his cousin taken in MD, says it’s him.


He’s asked if he’s ever harmed someone. Says no. Asked if he’s ever murdered someone— shakes his head no. He continues to swivel back and forth in the chair he’s sitting in, handcuffed & in jail clothes.


A search of his place in Tulsa, police find the business card of an FBI agent who visited and spoke to his roommate previously while he was outside. Small detail but why would Martinez-Hernandez take this?


Basically, the defendant gets caught in several lies during this interrogation. And indicates he’s innocent of any wrongdoing.


During cross— the defense makes the point that Martinez-Hernandez was calm & not anymore nervous than anyone else in his position might be. But during redirect— Det. Golden notes the swaying, body language shows he was more nervous when asked about DNA & his family


As I predicted… today is all about DNA. And it’s wild. We’ve got numbers like Octillion, Quadrillion, Nomillion…. I’ll update soon when I can. A lot to take in.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910769929764188621

 

[arielilane]

@Dylan_Segelbaum


"Your honor, the state rests,” Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey said.


4:54 PM · Apr 11, 2025


Harford County Circuit Judge Yolanda L. Curtin told jurors that it's likely they will have the case on Monday at some point.


4:56 PM · Apr 11, 2025

 

[arielilane]

HARFORD COUNTY, MD. (WBFF) — The trial of Victor Martinez-Hernandez, the man accused of raping and killing Rachel Morin, entered its eighth day on Friday.

Rachel Morin murder trial | Suspect denies ever being in Maryland

The trial of Victor Martinez-Hernandez, the man accused of raping and killing Rachel Morin, entered its eighth day on Friday.

foxbaltimore.com

April 11, 2025

The trial is expected to last at least another week after graphic testimony was presented over the first days of proceedings.

 

[Joe Friday]

Defense must not have much to offer if the judge is telling the jury they may have the case sometime on Monday.

Would surprise me if it only takes a few hours for the jury to reach their verdict of guilty.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

Agreed, Joe.

State presented a solid case. Dont think there's much of a defense here.

I know the defendant initially stated/suggested planting of evidence during investigation.

jmo

 

[cujenn81]

MORIN MURDER TRIAL DAY 8: The lead Harford County detective, Phil Golden, has retaken the witness stand. A video of him questioning Victor Martinez-Hernandez is playing in the courtroom. The suspect is wearing a striped prison jumpsuit and the interview is being done through a Spanish interpreter.

The suspect initially denied ever being in Maryland or knowing Rachel Morin. Golden pushes... questioning if there's any way he was in the state and didn't realize it. The suspect doubles down.

Golden then reveals a picture Martinez-Hernandez took with his cousin, Tania Hernandez, around Christmas time. Yesterday, his cousin testified that the suspect stayed with her and her husband at their home in Alexandria, VA. At first, the suspect denies knowing anything about the photo. It's only after further questioning that he admits it is a picture of him.

Throughout the interview, Golden repeatedly askes how/why Martinez-Hernandez's DNA was found at the crime scene. At one point, he even stresses, "No two people have the same DNA." The only explanation the suspect can provide is suggesting someone else might have planted it. "He didn’t know how it got there and if someone wanted to do him harm that they could have taken his DNA and put it somewhere," recalled Goldmen.

We still have no idea what DNA was found where. In an attempt to debunk the suspect's explanation without revealing this information yet, the state asks Golden, "Was the type of DNA something that could have been transported?""I guess it’s possible," Golden responds."Was it a physical object that could have been dropped?" asks the state. "No," he replies.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910705662201409939

I wonder why the prosecution wanted to wait to reveal what type of DNA they had when questioning this witness. Couldn’t the defense have just asked the witness what kind of DNA it was during the cross examination? (Never mind. I’m guessing that it was probably semen and the defense probably wants to avoids going there as much as possible.) I still wonder why the prosecution is seemingly being strategic about revealing that particular detail though?

 

[Knox]

APR 10, 2025

TRIAL DAY 7: Clues on defendant's phone, witnesses place him in Bel Air around time of murder

"Apparently he was working at Popeyes for a period of time then he had a job at Barrett's on the Pike," Rice said. "That ultimately establishes that he was here when this crime occurred."

www.wmar2news.com

Former roommate Marcos Campos-Guevara testified he knew Martinez-Hernandez from El Salvador and helped him move into his cousin's place where he lived as well. They later moved to a house "near the park" believed to be Plumtree Park, which is less than a mile from the Ma and Pa trail.

“We haven’t heard anything about a vehicle, so his ability to walk to the Ma and Pa trail certainly establishes his ability to go there and ultimately commit this crime," Rice explained.

Campos-Guevara testified the defendant moved out suddenly around August, leaving only a written note after he failed to pay rent or any bills.

We looked at all the homes/apartments in this area way back when.

Plumtree Park · 323 Thomas St, Bel Air, MD 21014

★★★★★ · Park

www.google.com

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 11, 2025

DNA analyst: Defendant's DNA only male profile found on Morin's body

The state rested its case on Friday in the Rachel Morin murder trial, marking the end of the first full week of testimony.

www.wbaltv.com

The defendant was also told his DNA was at the crime scene, to which he responded by saying someone wanted to hurt him, so they cut one of his hairs, collected some of his sweat and planted it there.

Martinez-Hernandez said "Fiona" was at first jealous because he "already had a woman." Then, Martinez-Hernandez said, she became an aggressive stalker that he had to report to the police.

The jury also heard hours of testimony from the Maryland State Police DNA analyst, who said the defendant's DNA was the only male profile found on Morin's body, Apple Watch and other key evidence recovered from the scene.

 

[faithx]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910871008912749019

This is the video he took a screenshot of:

 

[Ontario Mom]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910871008912749019

This is the video he took a screenshot of:

How surreal is that, a reporter covering the murder trial discovers the suspect had a screen shot of HIM, covering the victim's murder investigation. Not only is this guy a deranged predatory killer, he's a raging idiot to boot.

jmo

 

[Joe Friday]

I wonder why the prosecution wanted to wait to reveal what type of DNA they had when questioning this witness. Couldn’t the defense have just asked the witness what kind of DNA it was during the cross examination? (Never mind. I’m guessing that it was probably semen and the defense probably wants to avoids going there as much as possible.) I still wonder why the prosecution is seemingly being strategic about revealing that particular detail though?

If the type of DNA that was found at the crime scene (Blood, Saliva, Semen, ect.) was mentioned during the trial I missed it.

I suspect the defense filed a motion in limine to suppress what type of DNA was found from being reveled at trial in an attempt to make the crime less heinous than it actually was.

JMO

 

[FromGermany1]

Does anyone know, how it happened, that the defendant had a shovel at the crime scene?

 

[Knox]

Does anyone know, how it happened, that the defendant had a shovel at the crime scene?

I’m so disappointed this trial isn’t being televised. @arielilane is doing a wonderful job keeping us up to date daily (thank you). But reading the highlights is not the same.

I had the same question about the shovel. What was he doing at the trail to begin with, let alone with a shovel?

Was Rachel targeted or a random victim? What kind of a predator is he? Was he a creeper who liked to watch victims? What’s his background history?

Maybe we won’t ever learn these details as the DNA evidence is so strong, the whole case centers on it. And the prior murder he committed in El Salvador and the assault in LA can’t be mentioned in this trial, so we don’t have an MO for comparison.

 

[arielilane]

@Knox, 100% agreed about live streaming trial.

Heck, they could have even put it on a 30 minute delay. moo

 

[dotr]

I wonder why the prosecution wanted to wait to reveal what type of DNA they had when questioning this witness. Couldn’t the defense have just asked the witness what kind of DNA it was during the cross examination? (Never mind. I’m guessing that it was probably semen and the defense probably wants to avoids going there as much as possible.) I still wonder why the prosecution is seemingly being strategic about revealing that particular detail though?

Your suggestion makes sense regarding the DNA, but cannot help wondering if the (alleged) dirty doggy, also ''marked the spot.''
Insult to injury.
speculation, imo.

 

[Knox]

Your suggestion makes sense regarding the DNA, but cannot help wondering if the (alleged) dirty doggy, also ''marked the spot.''
Insult to injury.
speculation, imo.

Interesting thought, as I noted earlier this week in one of the news links talking about evidence-feces was mentioned.