A convicted killer was sentenced Monday for the 2023 death of Rachel Morin, a mother of five found dead on Maryland’s Ma and Pa trail.
According to WBAL-TV, a Harford County judge sentenced Victor Martinez-Hernandez to serve the rest of his life behind bars, without the possibility of parole.
“You are not a candidate for rehabilitation,” the judge said.
“There is simply no hope to rehabilitate you. You took a life that was not yours to take. Your acts not only brutalized a young woman but also terrorized a community. The Ma & Pa Trail is a place of beauty … your acts turned that into a place of terror.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the jury took less than an hour to deliberate in April, after a nine-day trial, during which the defense called only one witness and presented its case for just 10 minutes.
Morin was last seen on the popular Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air, in August 2023. Authorities later found her dead near the trail.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police found her in a drainage ditch a day after her boyfriend reported her missing.
Martinez-Hernandez illegally crossed into the U.S. multiple times from El Salvador, where he was accused of murdering a woman in December 2022. Each time he attempted to enter the country in early 2023, authorities expelled him.
After successfully gaining entry, he surfaced in Los Angeles and was linked to the assault of a woman and her 9-year-old daughter. DNA from the crime helped link him to Morin’s death.
During victim impact statements Monday, the court heard from Morin’s siblings, mother, and her children, who described her as a kind person who was loved by her family and friends.
According to FOX 45 News, some of Morin’s children provided their statements via audio, while others provided a written statement.
“She was a good mom,” her son said. “Every time I see a picture of her, I think about the life I had with her and my four sisters. I miss her.”
Morin’s mother, Patty, spoke to the court in person.
“What person could commit such horrific crimes?” she asked.
Although the defense requested life with the possibility of parole, the court was told about searches on the defendant’s computer, which showed people being shot, ca accidents and people jumping in front of trains.
The court also heard of around 53 child porn images found on Martinez-Hernandez’s phone, placing him at a higher risk to offend again.
Martinez-Hernandez waived his opportunity to speak.
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[Feature Photo: Rachel Morin/Handout]
