The defense rested their case in less than 10 minutes.
A jury has found Victor Martinez-Hernandez , an accused illegal immigrant, guilty of first degree murder, first degree rape, third degree sexual offense and kidnapping Rachel Morin , a Harford County mother of five, in August 2023.
The defense presented its case in less than 10 minutes on Monday, leading to jury deliberations that lasted less than an hour. The prosecution closed its case on Friday, following testimony from a forensic scientist with the Maryland State Police that Martinez-Hernandez's DNA was found on Morin's wrist, neck, and Apple watch.Her body was found brutalized and stuffed in a tunnel drain along Bel Air’s Ma and Pa trail.Several witnesses spoke before the court adjourned, including Morin's older daughter, a sheriff deputy, and the man who found Morin on the trail, Evan Knapp.Much of the testimony in the courtroom throughout the trial was emotional. The latter days of trial were used by the defense to establish that Martinez-Hernandez had worked and stayed in the area at the time of the murder. His friends, family, and co-workers testified that he was in Bel Air in August 2023 while working at Barrett's on the Pike and Popeye's restaurants, before leaving Maryland in May 2024. Martinez-Hernandez was arrested in June 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after authorities used his DNA to identify him as a suspect and his cellphone pinged at a sports bar in the area.During the ninth day of the trial on Monday, Martinez-Hernandez exercised his right to remain silent, and refused to take the stand. The defense called Harford County digital forensic examiner Megan Waltimyer, and questioned the process for pulling the search history of phone records.The jury took less than hour to deliberate the verdict.PHOTOS: Evidence shown to jury in Rachel Morin murder trial
Immigration Status Victor Martinez-Hernandez Bel Air Rachel Morin Local Life In Prison America's News Now Nation & World Top Videos Murder Trial Root Newsletter Daily Emotional Testimony Dna Evidence
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rachel Morin murder: Jury finds illegal immigrant guilty of killing joggerMaryland jurors on Monday convicted Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, the Salvadoran migrant accused of raping and murdering Rachel Morin in 2023.
Read more »
Accused illegal immigrant convicted of raping, killing Rachel Morin in Aug. 2023The defense rested their case in less than 10 minutes.
Read more »
Accused illegal immigrant convicted of raping, killing Rachel Morin in Aug. 2023The defense rested their case in less than 10 minutes.
Read more »
Accused illegal immigrant convicted of raping, killing Rachel Morin in Aug. 2023The defense rested their case in less than 10 minutes.
Read more »
Accused illegal immigrant convicted of raping, killing Rachel Morin in Aug. 2023The defense rested their case in less than 10 minutes.
Read more »
Accused illegal immigrant convicted of raping, killing Rachel Morin in Aug. 2023The defense rested their case in less than 10 minutes.
Read more »