Man Convicted of Killing and Raping Md. Mom Rachel Morin During Morning Run on Trail – ryan

Rachel Morin’s killer has been convicted more than a year and a half after the Maryland mother of five was attacked, raped, and murdered while out on a morning jog.

Victor Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty in Morin’s death Monday on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sex offense, and kidnapping, the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office announced.

“This case shook our Harford County community and robbed a family of their daughter, sister, mother, and friend,” Alison Healey, the Harford County State’s Attorney, said in a statement.

The Maryland jury deliberated for less than an hour before convicting the 23-year-old Martinez-Hernandez, according to CBS Baltimore, The Baltimore Bannerand CNN.

“It is my sincere hope that today’s verdict brings some peace and closure to the entire Morin family,” Healey said. “While no verdict or sentence can ever bring Rachel back, I am proud of the work that was done to ensure that justice was served, and that Victor Martinez-Hernandez will never again be a threat to another woman in this lifetime.”

Morin went missing during a morning run on Aug. 5, 2023. Her remains were found the next day along the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Bel Air, Md., roughly 30 miles north of Baltimore.

Police then launched a 10-month manhunt that ended when Martinez-Hernandez was arrested in Tulsa, Okla., PEOPLE previously reported. Authorities later announced that the now-convicted killer was also wanted for another murder in El Salvador and was suspected in a home burglary in California.

Prosecutors said Martinez-Hernandez hid in a drainage culvert and ambushed Morin as she ran by, dragging her body off the trail and killing her by beating her head with rocks, according to CNN. In his initial charging documents, reviewed by PEOPLE, authorities said they tracked Martinez-Hernandez using DNA recovered from Morin’s body that had been connected to him through relatives.

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After his conviction Monday, Healey told reporters that Martinez-Hernandez’s DNA was found “on every part of her body.”

“It was a horrific crime,” the Harford County State’s Attorney said. “My sole goal here was to make sure that we got justice for Rachel.”

The state is seeking a sentence of life without parole for the murder charge, an additional life sentence for the rape charge, and more years for additional charges, according to CBS News Baltimore. Sentencing will happen within the next 90 days.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.