The Salvadoran illegal immigrant who brutally attacked and killed Rachel Morin showed no emotion as her mourning children eulogized their “kind” and “determined” mother during his sentencing on Monday. He received a life sentence without the chance of parole.
Judge Yolanda Curtin of Harford County Circuit Court delivered the harsh sentence to Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, after a lengthy hearing. During this session, Morin’s family, including four of her five children, shared heartfelt victim impact statements.
Morin’s oldest daughter portrayed her mother as someone with the “best laugh,” describing her as “kind, strong, honest, determined, and funny” in a poignant written statement that was read to the court by the prosecutor, as reported by WBAL-TV.
“I had to relive the worst two days of my life in order to write this,” the statement from the 20-year-old read.
Her three youngest children delivered their statements via audio recordings.
Her son was recorded saying, “She was a good mom. Every time I see a picture of her, I reminisce about the life I had with her and my sisters. I miss her.”
Morin’s children range in age from 9 to 20.
The judge addressed Martinez-Hernandez, stating, “You took a life that was not yours to take,” as reported by WBAL-TV. “Your actions not only destroyed a young woman but also terrorized a community.”
“You are not a candidate for rehabilitation. There is simply no hope to rehabilitate you.”
In April, a jury convicted Martinez-Hernandez of murdering Morin, 37, while she was jogging on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Bel Air, Maryland, on August 5, 2023.
He strangled her and then bashed her head against rocks before hiding her partially naked body in a drainage culvert on the trail that is about 30 miles northeast of Baltimore.
Morin’s younger brother, John Morin, said through tears Monday that he’s experienced a “tidal wave of grief” since his sister’s slaying, according to a post on X by ABC 2 reporter Blair Sabol.
Martinez-Hernandez remained stony-faced and emotionless as the family members told the judge about the toll that Morin’s murder had taken on the family.
After, through a Spanish translator, Martinez-Hernandez addressed the judge, thanking her “for the opportunity to speak” but that he would “not be giving any testimony.”
Morin’s mother, Patty Morin, told the court she has suffered nightmares, panic attacks, and insomnia since her daughter’s death.
“The depths of grief are equivalent to the depths of love felt,” Patty said. “This will impact generations to come.”
Ahead of the sentencing, the heartbroken mom told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” that she didn’t know if she wanted to hear from her daughter’s murderer at the sentencing, because she would never really know if an apology was simply a bid for a lighter penalty.
âTo be honest, I donât know, because even if he spoke, would I believe what he said?” Patty said. “If he said he was sorry, could I believe that he actually is or if heâs just saying that to you know, to hope for a lesser sentence.”
The killer wasnât captured until nearly a year later in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June 2024, after investigators were able to match the DNA taken from his sock to the DNA found at the crime scene.
He was convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree sexual offense and kidnapping and faced up to life in prison. He didn’t face the death penalty as the Free State doesn’t allow capitol punishment.
Martinez-Hernandez entered the country illegally after allegedly slaying another woman in his home country of El Salvador.
Morin’s killing gained national notoriety as an example of former President Joe Biden’s dangerous border policies.
Patty was outspoken against Biden for his policies, which she blamed for the fact that Martinez-Hernandez was able to get into the country and kill her daughter.
The murder of Laken Riley also made headlines as Jose Ibarra, a Tren de Aragua gang member, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for slaying the promising 22-year-old nursing student on Feb. 22, 2024, in Georgia.
