The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that the illegal immigrant accused of murdering Rachel Morin, a mother of five from Maryland, had entered the U.S. as a “gotaway.” According to ICE, the alleged killer was caught by Border Patrol three times in January and early February 2023 and was sent back to Mexico each time under Title 42. However, he managed to successfully enter as a gotaway on or around February 13th near El Paso.
On June 14, Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, a 23-year-old Salvadoran national wanted for the murder of Rachel Morin, was arrested by authorities in Tulsa, Oklahoma. ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Martinez-Hernandez, and he was extradited to Harford County, Maryland on June 20. He currently remains in the Harford County Jail awaiting trial.
Martinez-Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape after a 10-month investigation into Morin’s murder. Harford County Sheriff Jeffery Gahler expressed his belief that Morin was not his first victim and mentioned that Martinez-Hernandez had fled to the U.S. illegally after committing a murder in El Salvador a month earlier.
Rachel Morin went missing in August after going for a run on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air. Her boyfriend reported her disappearance, leading to a search that tragically ended with the discovery of her body. During Martinez-Hernandez’s arrest announcement, Sheriff Gahler criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies, stating that the open border had allowed criminals like Martinez-Hernandez to enter the country and commit heinous crimes.
Gahler emphasized the danger posed by individuals entering the U.S. illegally, especially those with ties to criminal gangs. He pointed out that this was the second time in two years that a woman in Harford County had lost her life to an illegal immigrant with connections to criminal organizations. Gahler called for stricter immigration policies to ensure the safety of American citizens.
As Martinez-Hernandez awaits trial in the Harford County Jail, the community continues to mourn the loss of Rachel Morin. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of border security and the need to prevent criminals from entering the country illegally and causing harm to innocent individuals.