Rachel Morin Homicide, Rape Suspect Denied Bond: Court

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A Maryland judge has denied bail for Victor Martinez Hernandez, 23, the defendant identified by police as the suspect in Rachel Morin's rape and homicide.

Morin, 37, whose body was found along the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air in August 2023, was a mother of five. She frequently jogged the trail near where she was found raped and beaten to death.

Hernandez appeared via Zoom for his bail hearing in a black and white striped jumpsuit with his hands handcuffed behind his back. Judge Kerwin A. Miller presided over the hearing.

Hernandez has been charged with first-degree murder (life), second-degree murder (40 years maximum), first-degree rape (life), second-degree rape (20 years maximum), first-degree assault (25 years maximum) and second-degree assault (10 years maximum/$2,500 fine).

The court determined that Hernandez is a flight risk and a danger to society. It was brought up that he has an ICE detainer and an Interpol warrant. Hernandez declined to make a statement when given the opportunity.

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Hernandez was arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 14, on unrelated charges. He was extradited from Oklahoma to Maryland June 20 and booked into the Harford County Detention Center.

Charging documents show that by using DNA, unknown genetic material and other forensic evidence, a genetic profile was generated and confirmed that all material was from the same suspect. By using investigative genetic genealogy, investigators were able to identify a possible relative of the suspect. By investigating the family lineage, detectives were able to identify Hernandez as the suspect, charging documents stated.

On June 13, detectives interviewed family members of Hernandez. They learned that he had been staying with the family members in Maryland from December 2023 to May 2024. The family also told investigators that Hernandez left at the beginning of May 2024 and never returned.

Detectives asked if he had left behind any belongings and the family turned over two bags of clothing and a pair of shoes. DNA swabs were taken from those items and matched the DNA recovered from the crime scene, charging documents stated.

WBFF obtained court records that showed Hernandez had been renting a brick home in the 8100 block of East 15th Street in Tulsa, located not far from several schools, churches and an airport. A search warrant showed that investigators found a laptop, sketchbook and El Salvador driver's registration in the suspect's home, along with bus tickets and a metro card.

Hernandez, who is from El Salvador, also has been linked by DNA to a home invasion and sexual assault in southern California of a 9-year-old girl and her mother. Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said at a news conference following the suspect's arrest that Hernandez also is a suspect in the homicide of a young woman in El Salvador in July 2023, one month before Morin's death.

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