Rachel Morin: Maryland police release CCTV of suspect
Rachel Morin was remembered over the weekend as hundreds of community members took part in a tribute walk along the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland, where the mother-of-five was murdered.
The 5km walk, called “Rachel’s last steps”, was organised by Morin’s sister Rebekah and took place on Saturday.
Community members came out to pay tribute to the 37-year-old on the walk before then heading to the Flavor Cupcakery Bakery and Cafe, where 20 percent of its sales were donated to support Morin’s five children.
Morin was found dead on the trail on 6 August, after heading to the trail for a walk the evening before.
More than two weeks on, the killer remains at large.
Last week, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office announced a major break in the case, revealing that DNA found at the scene of Morin’s murder had been matched to the DNA left at a home where an unknown man broke into a home in Los Angeles and violently attacked a young girl back in March.
The suspect, a Hispanic male aged 20-30, was caught on a home security camera leaving the LA home.
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Rebekah Morin posted a poem to honor her late sister
I wish you sweet sleep, my sister dear.
Although there’s so much that you’ve left bare
I hate that you had to endure such pain
On my mind, your saddened eyes have left a stain.
I want to know what crossed your mind
Unspoken words you’ve left behind
Undone things we’ll never do
No sharing thoughts you never knew.
A peace has fallen upon your head
A taste of sorrow we have been fed
It really is like a hole in our lives
One swiftly dug but carved out by knives.
But I have hope that those sleeping will rise
The Bible says that God will open their eyes.
No suffering, sickness, yes not even pain,
Those who did good, eternal life they’ll gain.
So… sleep on my sister, sleep tight
For now with you the sky is night.
But after night will come daybreak
Therefore I will wait hoping to see you awake.
Kelly Rissman21 August 2023 16:45
Hundreds take part in community walk for Rachel Morin
Rachel Morin was remembered over the weekend as hundreds of community members took part in a tribute walk along the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland, where the mother-of-five was murdered.
The 5km walk, called “Rachel’s last steps”, was organised by Morin’s sister Rebekah and took place on Saturday.
Community members came out to pay tribute to the 37-year-old on the walk before then heading to the Flavor Cupcakery Bakery and Cafe, where 20 percent of its sales were donated to support Morin’s five children.
Rachel Sharp21 August 2023 14:55
Recap: Rachel Morin’s final moments
Just days into a new relationship with Richard Tobin, according to Facebook, the 37-year-old headed to to a popular hiking trail just outside of town around 6pm on Saturday 5 August.
The mother-of-five had been wearing a blue or black tank top, black sports bra, black spandex shorts, and gray sneakers when she was last sighted.
Her new boyfriend reported her missing after she failed to return that night.
Rachel Morin was last seen alive heading off on the Ma and Pa Trail
(Harford County Sheriff’s Office)
Kelly Rissman21 August 2023 13:30
Recap: who is the suspect accused of murdering Rachel Morin?
Police on Thursday described him as an “unknown male” who is approximately 5ft 9in tall, weighing 160 pounds. They believe him to be approximately Hispanic, 20-30 something with a “muscular build.”
“This individual is believed to have ties to the Los Angeles area and may have been involved in violent crimes in other states,” investigators said after they released footage of the suspect.
His DNA matched DNA left at a home in Los Angeles, where a break-in and assault of a child occurred in March.
Rachel Morin: Maryland police release CCTV of suspect
Kelly Rissman21 August 2023 11:00
Rachel Morin’s best friend
“Rachel was so unabashedly herself: witty and genuine, brilliant, daring, and headstrong. Her spirit would light up the room and her smile was contagious,” her best friend Claudia Brown wrote in a Facebook post after her death.
“Her faith was so strong,” she added.
Ms Brown wrote that Ms Morin had been divorced, and was a “fierce protector of her children and loved them with all of her heart.”
In other posts, Ms Brown called Rachel her “soul sister.”
Best friends Rachel Morin and Claudia Brown
(Claudia Brown / Facebook)
Kelly Rissman21 August 2023 07:00
Rachel Morin had five kids, ranging from 8 to 18 who had three different fathers, according to the New York Post. They are each in the custody of their respective dads, the outlet added.
“She was very warm and above all she loved her children,” one of Morin’s clients, Margaret Woltz, told The Post.
“She raised them very well. She had a flexible work schedule that allowed her to make sure her kids were always taken care of. We were like grandparents to the kids and we trusted her implicitly,” she added.
Kelly Rissman21 August 2023 03:00
On Thursday, investigators announced a major break in the case, connecting DNA found at the crime scene to a genetic evidence found at a home in LA in March, where an unnamed man broke into a home and assaulted a child.
“We collected DNA from the crime scene. The Maryland State Police analyzed that DNA for us—ran it through the national CODIS system—and that came back as a match to the crime that occurred in Los Angeles where they had recovered DNA from this person,” Col William Davis from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office explained on Thursday.
Kelly Rissman20 August 2023 23:45
Hundreds join ‘trail of flowers and light’ to honour Rachel Morin
On Saturday, hundreds of people in the local community joined a remembrance walk to honour the life of the 37-year-old slain mother.
Morin’s sister Rebekah organised the vigil to walk “Rachel’s last steps” on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air, where she was found dead on 6 August. Rebekah also posted a heartfelt poem celebrating her sister’s life on Sunday.
“So… sleep on my sister, sleep tight/For now with you the sky is night/But after night will come daybreak/Therefore I will wait hoping to see you awake,” Morin’s grieving sister wrote on Facebook.
Andrea Blanco20 August 2023 23:37
Rachel’s brother, John Morin
Her brother, John, has been a lot quieter on social media than her sister Rebekah and her mother, but he has been linking to video footage and the walk in Rachel’s memory.
He also posted a tear jerking post, a screenshotted conversation from two years ago between him and Rachel, with the caption: “Can’t wait to see you again someday soon.”
A conversation between John and Rachel Morin two years ago
(John Morin / Facebook)
Kelly Rissman20 August 2023 23:31
Community support continues as GoFundMePage flourishes
Rebekah Morin, Rachel’s sister, organized a fundraiser for the mother-of-five’s funeral expenses. She set a goal of raising $65,000, and individuals—some who knew Morin and others who were affected by her tragic death—have donated money and shared kind words.
“This tragedy affects our whole community. I can’t get this off my mind. I only spoke with Rachel once at the Bel Air, ShopRite Grocery store about paper plates. We chatted about families, and she told me about her 5 children. My deepest sympathies to the Morin family for both of your losses. I have prayed for you every day,” someone wrote on the page.
Another contributor wrote, “Don’t know Rachel but I’ve been following this tragedy since Sunday . It’s heartbreaking knowing she was out for a safe hike then tragedy hits. I wanted to contribute to give her a nice memorial and for her kids to be able to have something too. Prayers.”
Kelly Rissman20 August 2023 20:00