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

[Elley Mae]

“Investigators are confident, based on what they observed at the scene, that this was not an accident and this was not self-inflicted,” Gahler said.

Rachel Morin: Medical examiner confirms identity of victim

Rachel Morin was “a fighter” who was looking for “someone to love her in her raw form,” says friend of the slain Harford County woman.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com

…


Self- inflicted?

 

[Alkali13]

“Investigators are confident, based on what they observed at the scene, that this was not an accident and this was not self-inflicted,” Gahler said.

Rachel Morin: Medical examiner confirms identity of victim

Rachel Morin was “a fighter” who was looking for “someone to love her in her raw form,” says friend of the slain Harford County woman.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com

…


Self- inflicted?

As in there was very little chance she was killed by suicide.

 

[Alkali13]

I heard that too and it did stand out. Seemed like an interesting way to dance around time of death.

If the MA had yet to make an ID, I would assume they had yet to arrive at a concrete TOD either. I highly doubt there was any sort of second location involved or this was extraordinarily drawn out, so I would think LE misspoke. MOO.

 

[thefragile7393]

“Investigators are confident, based on what they observed at the scene, that this was not an accident and this was not self-inflicted,” Gahler said.

Rachel Morin: Medical examiner confirms identity of victim

Rachel Morin was “a fighter” who was looking for “someone to love her in her raw form,” says friend of the slain Harford County woman.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com

…


Self- inflicted?

Aka, she didn’t complete suicide

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"It's devastating. I couldn't believe it," said Kathy, who didn't provide her last name for security reasons. "It's always been safe. I've always done this trail, under the tunnel and everything. Always safe. I hope this killer is found. It's not going to be safe until they find this guy."

"For someone to grab her on the trail, I can't fathom it. For someone to take the chance she's not going to scream and hear her," said Donald Lemon, from Bel Air. "I hope the family gets justice."

Bel Air on edge after body of mother of five, Rachel Morin, was found on popular trail

There was a heavy law enforcement presence on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air on Monday, one day after deputies found what they believe is the body of 37-year-old Rachel Morin, a mother of five.

www.cbsnews.com

The walk will be held at the Williams Street Trail entrance at 6:30 pm

Bel Air community holds walk after woman's body found on popular trail | WBAL Baltimore News

Dozens of Bel Air community members gathered to walk the popular Ma & Pa Trail, where a woman was found killed on Sunday.

www.wbal.com

 

[Chimera]

I'm guessing it would be nearly impossible to have killed Rachel elsewhere, and carried her to the spot where she was found; without anyone noticing ?
So a random attacker seems more plausible.
But how brazen to do this in broad daylight, if that's how this crime happened ?
Omo.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“This is not an accidental death or an incident where she took her own life. This is foul play on the part of another,” said Harford Sheriff Jeff Gahler.

Gahler wouldn’t disclose the exact location where Morin’s body was recovered, but he said it was in the dense woods that are on either side of the walking path, which was once a railroad track.

Rachel Morin’s death declared a homicide after body found off hiking trail: Maryland sheriff

Rachel Morin, 37, was a mother of five who lived in Bel Air, Maryland.

nypost.com

 

[Alkali13]

I'm guessing it would be nearly impossible to have killed Rachel elsewhere, and carried her to the spot where she was found; without anyone noticing ?
So a random attacker seems more plausible.
But how brazen to do this in broad daylight, if that's how this crime happened ?
Omo.

Why would the lack of a second location be more indicative of a random attacker?

 

[Chimera]

@Alkali13 : Not sure yet ? There are still many questions I have about this senseless crime.

I added, "...without anyone noticing ? ", so possibly either the killer was incredibly 'lucky', or knew the area well ?
Thinking outside the box for a moment.
Still on the fence if this was a perp known to the victim, or a random attacker ?
Omo.

 

[merrymary]

I think one key thing to think about is that if it wasnt a random attack then it'd most likely have to be someone close enough to her to know she would be going there that day and that exact time. That is unless she always went on the same days and times and someone picked up on her schedule MOO.

Yes, and the cover photo on her Facebook is what has me a bit creeped out about this theory too! Log into Facebook

 

[whitelilac]

This reminds me of the Lauren Heike case in Arizona earlier this year.
Random perp. Interestingly, DNA from Lauren's shoe matched with that of a guy on probation, and other evidence led to the killer.
No idea if this awful attack was random or not.
Senseless and tragic.....I hope the investigation catches whoever did this.

Woman stabbed 15 times in apparently random deadly attack on hiking trail: Court docs

Lauren Heike was stabbed 15 times while hiking on a Phoenix trail last week, according to court documents. A suspect has been charged with murder in her death.

abcnews.go.com

 

[Elliot_Alderson]

Does the not self inflicted statement lead anyone to believe COD was GSW?

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

Does the not self inflicted statement lead anyone to believe COD was GSW?

That hadn't occurred to me. I assumed he was just stating this was clearly a homicide, not accidental or self-inflicted, so some sort of obvious sign of injury.

 

[thefragile7393]

Does the not self inflicted statement lead anyone to believe COD was GSW?

Not necessarily. Could be strangulation with a rope or some other item

 

[Alkali13]

Does the not self inflicted statement lead anyone to believe COD was GSW?

Personally, no... I would think they'd actually have a harder time making that determination with a GSW. <modsnip: rumors>

 

[Chimera]

Iirc (graphic warning);



Strangling leaves petechiae; this would (I think !) be visible in her eyes ?
Plus, there'd be marks on the neck or throat ?

Omo.
Eta : correct sp.

 

[thefragile7393]

Iirc (graphic warning);



Strangling leaves petechiae; his would (I think !) be visible in her eyes ?
Plus, there'd be marks on the neck or throat ?

Omo.

Which could be there. Have to see what is announced.

 

[dgfred]

Susan Powell in N.Carolina was just out for a jog too.

 

[*LD*]

Here's hoping she was able to scratch the daylights out of someone !
Maybe pull some hair ?
Dna evidence may solve this case.
Anyone with recent scratches walking around ?

IMO, Fake nails do not scratch like real nails. One reason I dislike fake nails is bc I can't scratch an itch as well! I'm always asking my husband to scratch my back or arm. They are rounded at the edge.

I wonder how DNA left behind is impacted by real or fake nails. Does anyone know?

 

[ohemgee.kay925]

IMO, Fake nails do not scratch like real nails. One reason I dislike fake nails is bc I can't scratch an itch as well! I'm always asking my husband to scratch my back or arm. They are rounded at the edge.

I wonder how DNA left behind is impacted by real or fake nails. Does anyone know?

Really great point, @*LD*! They are so very different! It does look like some research has been done on the impact of fake nails and the materials used on the extraction of DNA. I found the below link, which I hope is acceptable, although it does speak to an unrelated crime. Please alert or remove if not allowed!

<MOD NOTE - The link is acceptable, but ask first, don't post first>

Foreign DNA in cosmetic gel nails