Rachel Morin case: As day 2 of murder trial begins, nearly half of jury pool eliminated

Matt Hubbard, The Baltimore Sun on Apr 2, 2025

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BALTIMORE – As day two of the trial for Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez begins in Harford Circuit Court, there are 65 potential jurors left from a pool of 124, Harford State’s Attorney Alison Healy said Wednesday morning. Healy said that the aim is to seat the final members of the jury today in the trial of the man charged with rape and murder in the August 2023 killing of Rachel Morin, 37, of Bel Air.

“We are close to having enough to seat today,” Healy said, adding that the plan is to seat 12 jurors and up to eight alternates who can fill in if a juror is disqualified or cannot serve the entire length of the trial.

On Tuesday the prosecution and defense asked potential jurors specific questions about their backgrounds and beliefs, eliminating 59 from the pool. Healy said they adjourned at about 7:45 p.m., Tuesday.

On Tuesday, most of the potential jurors agreed they had “strong feelings” about Morin’s killing or the charges and allegations against Martinez-Hernandez in the case. A few agreed they had “strong feelings” about race, ethnicity, immigration status or other personal bias.

Martinez-Hernandez, who is from El Salvador, entered the United States illegally in 2023, authorities have said, after having been accused of murdering a woman in El Salvador. He is also accused of assaulting a mother and daughter during a home invasion in Los Angeles.

Despite the emphasis placed on immigration in this case, experts say Martinez-Hernandez’s prior allegations and illegal entry into the U.S. will probably not be spoken about during his trial.

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