Crime Scene DNA In Morin Homicide Matches Man Who Attacked Child In Los Angeles: Sheriff

BEL AIR, MD — DNA evidence pulled from the crime scene of slain mom Rachel Morin has matched DNA found at the scene of a March 2023 home invasion and assault of a young girl in Los Angeles.

Col. William Davis with the Harford County Sheriff's Office spoke at a news conference Thursday evening to share the new development, as well as a video of the man they believe murdered 37-year-old Morin. Her body was found naked and "violently assaulted" just off the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air Aug. 5.

"We think it was a person Rachel didn't know and it was a potential random act of violence," Davis said during the news conference. "In light of this new evidence, I urge our residents to use caution when walking the trails. If you see something that makes you uncomfortable or is suspicious, act on those instincts and call 911."

The Harford County Sheriff's Office is working with the FBI to analyze the DNA evidence further. The video shared during the news conference shows the suspect shirtless and leaving the Los Angeles home he's suspected of robbing and where police say he assaulted a little girl. He has been described as a Hispanic man about 5'9" tall and weighing 160 pounds with a muscular build. His face cannot be seen in the footage provided by the Los Angeles Police Department.

"We don't have any clue where he could be. We don't know if he's still in Harford County or even Maryland. In March, he was in California and in August he's in Maryland," Davis said. "We do believe he's in his low- to mid-20s."

The sheriff's office received more than 300 tips from the community, Davis said, and he encouraged people to use the TipLine at 410-836-7788 or the dedicated email rmtips@harfordsheriff.org to help identify the man.

"We are immensely proud of this community and our community will not be defined by this," Davis said.

Davis said he would not discuss the crime scene or what they believe happened so as not to jeopardize the case. But he did say he's never had a hit in the national database of DNA used by law enforcement that's been so far away from the first crime scene.

"It's certainly unusual," he said. "We want our community to be vigilant. We have a large amount of deployment on the trail and will until this person is caught or we believe he's not in the area."

Related:

• 5 Potential Witnesses Contacted In Mom Rachel Morin's Death: Sheriff
• Photos, Videos Sought From Site Where Rachel Morin's Body Was Found
• No Suspect, Motive Known In Rachel Morin Homicide: Harford Sheriff
• Memorial Walk For Slain Mom Rachel Morin Sends Message To Suspect
• Rachel Morin's Boyfriend Interviewed, Sheriff's Office Has 100+ Tips
• Rachel Morin Death: Sheriff Refutes Searcher's Claim On Finding Body