Maryland Jogger’s Mom Prosecutors say she died at the hands of an illegal immigrant with a long history of attacks on women and girls, who came face to face with the suspected killer in court for the first time Friday.
Victor Antonio Martínez-Hernández, The 23-year-old man is accused of kidnapping and brutally attacking Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, on a trail near her home and hiding her body in a culvert.
Martínez-Hernández, wearing a striped prison jumpsuit, handcuffs and shackles, accompanied a Spanish-language interpreter throughout the proceedings, according to Morin’s family attorney Randolph Rice.
It was his first in-person court appearance after appearing virtually with others.
“The pain felt by Rachel Morin’s family is further heightened by seeing Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez enter the courtroom with a flat, emotionless expression,” Rice told Fox News Digital. “This is a man who is accused of taking Rachel’s life in such a cruel and horrific manner, yet his behavior shows no remorse.”
He avoided eye contact with his grieving mother, Patty, other family members and even the prosecutors.
“It’s angry to think that if our borders were properly secured or the DNA Fingerprint Act was followed, this family would not be enduring this nightmare,” Rice said. “This tragedy could have been prevented, and today’s court appearance is a painful reminder to America of the failures of our current immigration system that allowed this man to remain unidentified until it was too late.”
Rice said the murder suspect’s arrival “caused great sadness and grief to Patty Morin”, who cried as she took her place at the defense table.
Martínez-Hernández revealed in court that she had dropped out of school after the seventh grade.
When he first arrived in America illegally in 2023 was already suspected of murdering a woman In his home country El Salvador.
Before making its way to Maryland, the border “got away” A California mother was allegedly raped And his 9 year old daughter is in his house.
Martínez-Hernández waived his right to a speedy trial and also waived a potential conflict of interest that arose from having once represented Morin’s boyfriend in the same public defender’s office.
“Today’s postponement was not unexpected. “We are preparing the family for a long legal process,” Rice said. “The family is strong and is taking this seriously, knowing that it will take time to get justice. “We are committed to ensuring that Rachel’s memory is honored and justice is served.”
After the waiver, the judge set a series of new hearing dates – a motion hearing on January 31, 2025, a pre-trial conference on March 31 and a new trial date for April 1. It is expected to last for two weeks.
Patty Morin traveled to Capitol Hill last month to push lawmakers to take the border crisis more seriously.
Morin told the House Judiciary Committee that if routine protocols had been followed – such as taking DNA swabs and photographing Martinez-Hernandez when she was stopped at the border – her daughter might still be alive.
Interpol already had one warrant for his arrest when he came to America
“I realize some of you are not interested in this because you think it’s a partisan thing, but these are the American people,” Morin told lawmakers during the hearing. “We need to close the borders. …These people who are coming across the border, if they are coming illegally, it is because they have something to hide.
New York Democratic Representative Jerrold Nadler was seen shaking his head during the hearing.
“What I really want to say is that I really want the American people, members of Congress, senators, presidents… I want everyone to really hear our voices, hear our words, listen to what we Listen to what he has to say and accept it.” It’s from the heart,'” Morin later told Fox News Digital.
“It’s hard to verbally convey the message to them because they already have the mentality that it’s a political thing, that you’re either for immigration or you’re against immigration. I don’t think Americans are against immigration if it’s done right.
(Tags to translate) US news (T) courts (T) crimes (T) Maryland (T) murders (T) rape
