Crime & Safety

Rachel Morin's Brother Discusses Sister's Death At Republican National Convention

Rachel Morin's brother, Michael, spoke about his sister's death and immigration reform at the Republican National Convention this week.

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Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, the suspect in the August 2023 slaying and rape of Rachel Morin along the Ma and Pa Trail, is a native of El Salvador and in the U.S. illegally, officials have said. Her brother spoke about her death at the RNC.
Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, the suspect in the August 2023 slaying and rape of Rachel Morin along the Ma and Pa Trail, is a native of El Salvador and in the U.S. illegally, officials have said. Her brother spoke about her death at the RNC. (Photo courtesy of the Morin family)

BEL AIR, MD — The brother of slain Bel Air mom Rachel Morin spoke about immigration Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, who has been charged in the August 2023 homicide and rape of Rachel Morin along the Ma and Pa Trail, is a native of El Salvador and in the U.S. illegally, officials have said. Martinez-Hernandez also is a suspect in the homicide of a young woman in El Salvador in July 2023, one month before Rachel Morin's death, as well as a home invasion and sexual assault in southern California of a 9-year-old girl and her mother.

“Open borders are often portrayed as compassionate and virtuous,” Michael Morin, 40, of Churchville, said at the convention, according to Maryland Matters. “But there is nothing compassionate about allowing violent criminals into our country and robbing children of their mother. My sister’s death was preventable.”

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Rachel Morin, a mother of five, was reported missing after going for a run on the popular trail. Her body was found not far from the trail; she had been raped and was beaten to death. DNA found at the scene of the Los Angeles assault was linked to the Maryland crime scene.

Martinez-Hernandez was arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 14 on unrelated charges. He has been charged with six criminal counts: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree rape, second-degree rape, first-degree assault and second-degree assault.

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State Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R-Baltimore County), a Maryland delegate at the convention, told Capital News Service last week: “We have a problem with crime along the border. We have criminals that are coming to our nation that are just, not committing crimes, that they’re murdering people.”

According to Maryland Matters, when addressing the crowd of delegates at the convention, Michael Morin said, "I pray that we hold worldly leaders accountable for safety and justice for innocent people. I pray that we make our country safe and secure in the memory of my sister Rachel, who loved life.”

On July 9, State’s Attorney Alison Healey filed a notice to seek the maximum penalty of life without parole for Martinez-Hernandez.

Read more: Brother of Bel Air murder victim speaks at the Republican convention

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