Rachel Morin’s illegal immigrant killer sentenced to life in prison, no parole

Morin, who was 37 at the time of her death, was jogging on a trail near Baltimore, Maryland when she was ambushed by illegal immigrant Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, who then beat Morin to death on August 5, 2023.

The convicted murderer was sentenced on Monday to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole as well as an additional 40 years, per Fox News. Morin's mother, as well as Morin's children, shared statements prior to Martinez-Hernandez's sentencing. "Before my mom was murdered, the world made sense to me. Life made sense to me," Morin's daughter said. "Now my heart is broken. Victor [Martinez-Hernandez] is evil and changed my entire life for the worst. Now, I ask you to change his life for the worst."

Patty, Morin's mother, also spoke at the hearing, just feet away from her daughter's killer. "What person could commit such horrific crimes?" she said. The illegal immigrant was also caught with 53 images of child pornography on his computer. Harford County State's Attorney Alison Healey said in court that some images were of “infants and toddlers."

"The defendant is completely and entirely unamenable to treatment or rehabilitation," Healy added. "If he is released, our community is in grave danger ... It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when."

Randolph Rice, the Morin family's attorney, told Fox News, "They shared their deep love for her, the irreplaceable void her absence has left in their lives, and their unwavering commitment to honor her memory by seeking justice today and protecting others from suffering the same fate."

"Speaking with the Morin family as they prepared for the sentencing, I noticed a palpable sadness," Rice later added. "It's the same heaviness they felt in the weeks after Rachel's body was found in a storm drain off of her hometown walking trail two years ago."

"Back then, they were shocked and overwhelmed by the brutality of her rape and murder. Now, there is a different type of grief. They are grateful that her killer will die in prison, where he can't hurt anyone else. But for Rachel's mother in particular, there is a fear of Rachel's memory fading as this case wraps up in the justice system. Monday's sentencing hearing will be the Morin family's chance to share how this horrific crime has affected their lives and speak directly to the monster who took Rachel. They don't have much hope that he will understand the impact of his actions, but they appreciate any opportunity to share Rachel's legacy," Rice added.