Northeast

Rachel Morin’s alleged illegal killer left slain jogger’s body along 150-foot blood trail: prosecutors

Published

11 months ago

April 9, 2025

Rachel Morin’s alleged illegal killer left slain jogger’s body along 150-foot blood trail: prosecutors

Jury selection begins in Rachel Morin trial

Randolph Rice, attorney for Patty Morin, explains the first steps in the trial process, the considerations for the murder suspect’s alleged gang ties, and the impact of the Biden administration’s border policies.

Community members discovered the 150-foot blood trail leading to Rachel Morin’s lifeless body on a hiking trail as volunteers helped police search for the Maryland mom, opening remarks revealed in the long-awaited trial for her accused migrant killer.

Opening statements began Friday morning at the Harford County Circuit Court in Bel Air, Maryland, for the trial of Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, a 23-year-old from El Salvador, who is charged with murdering the 37-year-old Morin in 2023.

Morin’s family members, including her mother, Patty Morin, were seen arriving at the courthouse on Friday.

Martinez-Hernandez is accused of raping and killing Morin, a Harford County mother of five, whose body was discovered along a popular walking trail back in August 2023.

ILLEGAL ACCUSED IN JOGGER RACHEL MORIN’S MURDER SET TO FACE FAMILY, JURY

Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez is accused of raping and murdering mother of five Rachel Morin in Maryland on Aug. 5, 2023. (Tulsa Police Department/ Facebook)

Rebekah Morin, left, and Patty Morin arrive at Harford County Courthouse in Bel Air, Maryland, on Friday, April 4, 2025, for the murder trial of Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, who is accused of murdering Rachel Morin. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)

Morin was reported missing after she did not return home from some evening exercise on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air on Aug. 5.

In opening statements Friday, Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey said that concerned community members had gone along the walking trail after seeing missing person posters on Facebook.

Along the creek line, they found a trail that resembled a deer trail, with flattened leaves, before finding rocks with blood on them. The pair walked through two tunnels, with overgrown brush, where they found Morin’s body, Healey said.

“I saw an unclothed human body on her back. At first, I truly thought it might have been a deer or something that had died in there,” Evan Knapp, who found Rachel Morin’s body, testified. “So, I had to move a bit closer to confirm what I had seen, and it was a human. I feel like time froze for a second and I didn’t know what I was looking at.”

Knapp and his friend, Cecilia, immediately called 911. Authorities retraced the path where Morin’s body had been dragged after her brutal rape and murder. Police also collected large bloody rocks that authorities say she had been bashed with.

Healey said that Morin’s right shoe and socks had been left on, and her left shoe and socks had been discarded. She noted that Morin’s bra had been pulled over her breasts.

The Harford County Courthouse in Bel Air, Maryland, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)

Healey said the defendant, Martinez-Hernandez, forced Morin against the tunnel wall and raped her. Evidence revealed that the brutal assault had taken place between 7:04 and 7:10 p.m., she said.

Authorities discovered her phone submerged in the water, completely shattered, along with her destroyed Apple Watch. Nearby, they also found her Apple AirPods.

MARYLAND SHERIFF’S ‘GUT’ SAYS RACHEL MORIN WAS ‘STALKED’ BY SUSPECT BEFORE HER MURDER

Erin Morin-Layman arrives at Harford County Courthouse in Bel-Air, MD, Friday, April 4, 2025 for the murder trial of Victor Antonio Martinez who is accused of murdering Morin-Layman’s half-sister, Rachel Morin. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)

Autopsy results revealed that Morin had endured 15 to 20 blows to the head and had died from a combination of strangulation and blunt force trauma. Her death was officially ruled a homicide.

Her body bore bruises around her neck, and according to Healey, a DNA profile matched Martinez-Hernandez.

WATCH: VICTOR MARTINEZ-HERNANDEZ’S OKLAHOMA ARREST

On June 14, 2024, authorities pinged Martinez-Hernandez’s cellphone and responded to a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He eventually admitted his identity after initially lying to police and providing a false name, authorities said.

When authorities searched his phone, they said they discovered internet queries for “Bel Air, [Md.]” and “Rachel”—including a misspelled version of Morin’s name—along with images of Morin and media coverage related to the investigation.

WATCH: BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF MIGRANT ACCUSED IN MURDER, RAPE OF MARYLAND MOM RACHEL MORIN

Martinez-Hernandez repeatedly told authorities that he had never been in Maryland, only in Texas and Oklahoma, they said.

“You will be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that all of it is the defendant’s DNA,” Healey said Friday. “I’m certain you will be convinced that he had a plan to grab her off the trail and conceal her in the tunnel, drug her in there, bashed her in the head, disrobed her and left his DNA.”

You will be convinced he left her there and fulfilled a mother’s worst nightmare.
— Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey
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The boyfriend of slain Maryland mother Rachel Morin posted a tribute to her. (Facebook)

Defense attorney Sawyer Hicks, representing Martinez-Hernandez, used his opening statement to cast doubt on the DNA match and suggest the incident was a crime of passion.

Hicks reiterated that the state has the burden of proof, noting that his client is presumed innocent until proven beyond reasonable doubt that he killed Morin.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT INDICTED FOR RACHEL MORIN’S MURDER IN ‘CRUCIAL STEP’: FAMILY LAWYER

“When you retire to deliberate, we are confident that you will see there is reasonable doubt in this case and that Hernandez is not guilty,” Hicks said.

Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez was extradited to Maryland on June 20, 2024. (Tusla Police Department)

He said that Martinez-Hernandez and Morin were strangers, and appeared to be laying the groundwork to cast suspicion on her then-boyfriend, Richard Tobin.

Hicks challenged the jury with pointed questions: “Where is the motive? Where is Richard Tobin’s DNA?’”

Tobin has never been accused of any wrongdoing in the case.

Richard Tobin took to Facebook to deny he had any involvement in the killing of his girlfriend, Rachel Morin, whose body was found on a hiking trail. (Facebook)

Morin’s boyfriend took the stand on Friday, sharing the pair had talked for about five months before he asked her to be his girlfriend just five days before Morin’s murder.

After Morin failed to answer Tobin’s repeated text messages and phone calls, worry began to set in.

“Somebody messaged me on Facebook and said they had found her,” he said. “I freaked out. I cried. I screamed.”

Who is Rachel Morin?

Morin was reported missing in August 2023 by her boyfriend, who said she had never returned after going out for a run on the Ma & Pa Trail, a pedestrian trail in Bel Air, a quiet and typically safe town about 28 miles northeast of Baltimore, on Aug. 5, 2023.

Her body was found near the trail the next day.

In February, police released new sketches of Martinez-Hernandez.

WATCH: Rachel Morin murder suspect linked to LA home invasion, assault

The sketches came after DNA evidence linked Martinez-Hernandez to the location of a Los Angeles home invasion. Police used the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which led them to a single DNA match for an unidentified Hispanic male.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) collected a hat left behind at the site of the March 2023 home invasion that had turned violent, injuring a nine-year-old girl and her mother.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECT IN RACHEL MORIN’S MURDER EXPECTED TO ARGUE FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE

The suspect allegedly broke into the home in the middle of the night and assaulted the family inside before he was chased out. Surveillance video footage captured the man leaving, shirtless, through the front door.

PHOTOS OF INITIAL SEARCH IN MARYLAND:

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“I’m going to make this short, because I’m very emotional,” Morin’s mother said previously. “I just want to take this time to thank all the law enforcement for all their hard work.

“They just really cared for our family and for our daughter,” she said. “They were going to diligently work and find the person who murdered her.”

Fox News’ Alexandria Hoff and Sally Persons contributed to this report.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital.

Sarah joined FOX in 2021, where she has assisted on coverage of breaking and major news events across the US and around the world, including the fallout following the “Defund the police” movement, the assassination attempts on President Donald Trump’s life and illegal immigration.

She has experience reporting on topics including crime, politics, business, lifestyle, world news and more. You can follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Pittsburg, PA

Steelers Add Year to Cam Heyward’s Contract, Creating Cap Space

Published

22 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Steelers Add Year to Cam Heyward’s Contract, Creating Cap Space

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally have some clarity on Cameron Heyward’s short-term future with the team.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, the Steelers have added an extra year to Heyward’s deal. As a result, they freed up right around $5.5 million in cap space.

SOURCES: The Steelers have added a year to DE Cam Heyward’s contract, creating nearly $5.5 million in cap space. His new deal is worth $32.25 million over two years with the first year guaranteed.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 10, 2026

Heyward’s contract is now worth $32.25 million across two seasons, though only the first of those two years is guaranteed.

The reigning second-team All-Pro previously had one year left on his contract, which carried a cap hit of $19.150 million.

Heyward’s deal was a source of contention during training camp last summer, as the 15-year veteran looked to negotiate his contract after previously having agreed to a two-year, $29 million extension leading into the 2024 campaign.

Nov 23, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images | Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

The 36-year-old, who was a first-team All-Pro that year, later compromised with Pittsburgh after it added a little over $3 million in incentives to his contract before Week 1 of the 2025 season.

Over 17 games, Heyward recorded a total of 3.5 sacks and 78 tackles with a forced fumble.

With it appearing set in stone that he’ll return for the 2026 season after agreeing to his modified deal, the question now becomes whether or not Heyward will play out the duration of his contract through 2027.

What Could Steelers Do with Extra Money?

Pittsburgh was rather active both shortly before and immediately after the legal tampering period began, re-signing cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and linebacker Cole Holcomb while also signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner Jamel Dean and acquiring wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. via trade from the Indianapolis Colts, whom it immediately inked to a three-year, $59 million extension.

It’s been a bit quiet for the Steelers since that initial wave, however, with punter Cameron Johnston representing their only move on the second day of free agency.

There’s still plenty of names out there on the open market, and with needs remaining along the offensive line, at safety and receiver even after adding Pittman Jr., the action shouldn’t stop for Pittsburgh.

While quarterback remains the most substantial question mark for the Steelers on paper, the widespread assumption remains that Aaron Rodgers will eventually return to the franchise. When that decision will, or could, become official, though, is anyone’s best guess at the moment.

The money Pittsburgh saved by revising Heyward’s contract could help fill out its roster not only through free agency, but also via the 2026 NFL Draft now that it has 12 picks at its disposal upon being awarded four compensatory selections.

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Connecticut

Pension fund assets for retired CT state employees and teachers up 14%

Published

1 hour ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Pension fund assets for retired CT state employees and teachers up 14%

Keith M. Phaneuf
| The CT Mirror

State Treasurer Erick Russell achieved a 14% increase last year investing Connecticut’s pension fund assets, gaining roughly $8.3 billion for retirement programs for state employees, teachers and other municipal workers.

The state, which oversees nearly $69 billion in pension assets, aims for an average annual return on pension investments of 6.9%.

Expectations for bigger gains grew throughout the past year as key stock market indices surged. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges, grew by more than 13% in 2025. And the S&P 500, which follows 500 traded companies, topped 16%.

Among peer states and other entities that manage public pension funds holding more than $10 billion in assets, Connecticut’s 2025 performance ranks in the top 17%, Russell said.

But the treasurer, who also announced this week he will seek a second term, said the latest big earnings stem from more than the big gains Wall Street enjoyed in 2025.

“Markets certainly have been strong, but a lot of this is about our overall asset allocation,” said Russell, who updated the Investment Advisory Council Tuesday on the state’s portfolio. “The progress we’ve been making … is a good sign that we’re set up for future success.”

Russell also reported investment gains of 10.3% for the 2024 calendar year and 12.8% for 2023.

State officials particularly have focused on improving investment returns since a May 2023 report from Yale University researchers found Connecticut’s results badly lagged the nation’s over the prior decade.

That only compounded an even larger pension problem that state officials began to address in the early 2010s. According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Connecticut governors and legislatures failed to save adequate for pension benefits for more than seven decades prior to 2011. This deprived the state treasurer of huge assets that otherwise could have been invested to generate billions of dollars in revenue over those seven decades.

The treasurer’s office under Russell has put more funds into private and domestic markets and curbed reliance on investment managers who receive large fees for their work.

Gov. Ned Lamont and the General Assembly also have greatly assisted efforts to bolster the fiscal health of pension programs in recent years. Since 2020, they have used $10 billion from budget surpluses to make supplemental payments into pensions for state employees and municipal teachers. That’s in addition to annual required payments that currently approach $3.3 billion in the General Fund.

“These returns highlight the impressive work of Treasurer Russell and his team in increasing investment returns,” Lamont’s budget spokesman, Chris Collibee, said Tuesday. “Gov. Lamont’s focus has been on building a sustainable Connecticut for the future. Every dollar in additional investment revenue is funds the state can use to cut taxes and provide more resources for essential programs like education, child care, housing, and social services safety nets.”

Russell, a New Haven Democrat, said he has tried to make the office both “disciplined and forward-looking.”

“Over the last several years, we haven’t just changed how the office works, we’ve changed who it works for. We’re ushering in a new era of fiscal responsibility, making significant payments on long-term debt that has allowed us to invest in the residents of Connecticut and begin to lift up communities across our state.”

Russell also brokered a key compromise in 2023 between Lamont and the legislature that salvaged the Baby Bonds program, an initiative that invests long-term funds in Connecticut’s poorest children when they’re born to help finance educational and business opportunities later in life.

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