The mother of a Maryland jogger who prosecutors say died at the hands of an illegal immigrant with a long history of attacks on women and girls came face-to-face with the suspected killer in court for the first time Friday.
Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, 23, is accused of kidnapping and brutally assaulting Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, at a running track near her home before hiding her body in a culvert.
Martinez-Hernandez, wearing a striped jail jumpsuit, handcuffs and shackles, leaned against a Spanish-language interpreter during the proceedings, said Randolph Rice, the attorney for Morin’s family.
It was his first in-person court appearance after attending the others virtually.
“Seeing Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez enter the courtroom with a flat, emotionless expression only deepens the fear felt by Rachel Morin’s family,” Rice told Fox News Digital. “This is the man accused of taking Rachel’s life in such a brutal and gruesome manner, yet his behavior shows no sign of remorse.”
He avoided eye contact with the grieving mother, Patty, other members of the family and even prosecutors.
“It is infuriating to think that if our borders had been properly secured or the DNA Fingerprint Act had been followed, this family would not have to endure this nightmare,” Rice added. “This tragedy was preventable, and today’s court appearance is a painful reminder to America of the failures in our current immigration system that allowed this individual to go undetected until it was too late.”
The murder suspect’s arrival “brought an overwhelming sense of sadness and grief to Patty Morin,” who burst into tears as he took his seat at the defense table, Rice said.
Martinez-Hernandez revealed in court that he dropped out of school after seventh grade.
When he first arrived illegally in the US in 2023, he was already suspected of killing a woman in his home country of El Salvador.
Before heading to Maryland, the border escapee allegedly raped a California mother and her 9-year-old daughter in their home.
Martinez-Hernandez waived his right to a speedy trial and also waived a potential conflict of interest that arose because Morin’s friend was once represented by the same public defender’s office.
“Today’s postponement was not unexpected. We have prepared the family for a lengthy legal process,” Rice said. “The family is strong and is working on this, knowing that justice will take time. We remain committed to ensuring that Rachel’s memory is honored and justice is served.”
Following the waiver, the judge set a series of new hearing dates: a hearing on the motions on January 31, 2025, a pre-trial conference on March 31, and a new trial date on April 1. This is expected to last two weeks.
Patty Morin traveled to Capitol Hill last month in an effort 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 a DNA swab and a photo of Martinez-Hernandez when he was stopped at the border — her daughter could still be alive.
Interpol already had a warrant for his arrest when he came to the US
“I realize some of you aren’t interested in this because you think it’s partisan, but these are American people,” Morin told lawmakers during the hearing. “We have to close the borders. … These people who come across the border, if they come across illegally, it’s because they have something to hide.”
New York Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler appeared to fall asleep during the hearing.
“What I would really like to come across is that I really want the American people, members of Congress, senators, presidents… I want everyone to actually listen to our voices, listen to our words, listen to what we have to say and take it to heart,” Morin later told Fox News Digital.
“It’s difficult to express the message to them because they already have the mentality that this is a political issue, that you are either for immigration or against immigration. I don’t think Americans are against immigration if it’s done the right way.”
