Victor Martinez Hernandez, a 23-year-old El Salvadoran national, has been charged with the brutal rape and murder of mother of five Rachel Morin. He has been held in an Oklahoma jail since his arrest on June 14, but is now being extradited to Maryland to face murder charges in the case. Morin’s attorneys stated that the judge in Maryland will consider various factors in determining whether Hernandez should be held or released pending trial, including recommendations from pretrial release services, the severity of the offense, and the evidence against the defendant. They also mentioned that the judge will take into account the potential danger Hernandez poses to the community.
Morin, 37, was attacked while out for a hike on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Bel Air on August 4. The assault was described as so brutal that her family said it looked as though her head had been smashed with a rock. DNA evidence from a previous home invasion and assault of a young girl in Los Angeles was matched to Hernandez, including surveillance footage of him leaving the scene of the crime. He was officially identified as a suspect in May and is now set to appear before a judge in Hartford County after being extradited from Tulsa.
Hernandez entered the US illegally in February 2023 and is known to be affiliated with violent street gangs in El Salvador. He is also suspected in the murder of another woman in El Salvador. The state attorney’s office in Hampton County, which is handling his case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hernandez is scheduled for a bail hearing on Friday and the case will be presented to a grand jury for further consideration.
The brutal nature of Morin’s murder, coupled with the evidence linking Hernandez to the crime, has shocked the community and Morin’s family. Her attorneys are working to ensure that Hernandez remains in custody pending trial and that justice is served for Morin. The extradition process from Oklahoma to Maryland is underway, and Hernandez is expected to face the charges against him in court soon.
As the case unfolds, more details about Hernandez’s background and his involvement in violent crimes both in the US and El Salvador are likely to come to light. The investigation into Morin’s murder is ongoing, and authorities are working to ensure that Hernandez faces the full extent of the law for his alleged actions. The community is rallying around Morin’s family during this difficult time, seeking closure and accountability for the heinous crime that was committed.
