Harford County, Maryland – A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother whose body was discovered near a popular hiking trail in August 2023. Victor Martinez Hernandez was apprehended in Tulsa, Oklahoma, late Friday night and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape, according to Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gaylor.
Hernandez, 23, is said to have illegally crossed the U.S. border in February 2023 after committing another murder in El Salvador in January 2023. The case gained national attention as authorities linked Hernandez to a home invasion and assault in Los Angeles, California, using DNA evidence from the Morin crime scene.
Morin was reported missing by her boyfriend after failing to return from a run, with her body being discovered on a trail the following day. Her family and officials expressed concern over the suspect’s potential illegal entry into the U.S., leading to an extensive investigation into the case.
Colonel William Davis of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office revealed that DNA from the crime scene was connected to an unidentified suspect in a Los Angeles home invasion, shedding light on Hernandez’s violent history. Sheriff Gaylor described Hernandez as a “monster” who not only fled to the U.S. after committing crimes abroad but also engaged in a brutal home invasion targeting a nine-year-old girl and her mother in Los Angeles.
Additionally, Hernandez has ties to the Washington, D.C. area, including Virginia and Prince George’s County, with alleged connections to known gangs. The investigation into Morin’s murder continues to uncover troubling details about Hernandez’s past activities, underscoring the urgency of bringing him to justice.