Police believe the man responsible for a home invasion in California may also be responsible for the murder of a hiker across the country in Maryland (Pictures: Harford County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators have matched DNA from an unsolved home invasion and assault in California to the recent murder of a hiker in Maryland.
On August 5, Rachel Morin was found dead on the side of a hiking trial in Bel Air, Maryland.
Morin, 37, was the single mother of five children, ranging in age from 8 to 18. She owned her own cleaning business and was a well known fitness enthusiast.
She was reported missing by her boyfriend failing to return from a run on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, a path she ran on frequently.
Rachel Morin was found dead on a hiking trail in Bel Air, Maryland about two weeks ago (Picture: Harford County Sheriff’s Office
Witnesses told the Daily Mail that Morin’s body had severe head trauma, was badly beaten, and found at the end of a 20-foot trail of blood. Investigators have not confirmed this account.
Two weeks later, investigators finally made a break in the case after DNA evidence lead them in a surprising direction.
‘DNA evidence is part of every modern day investigation, and in Rachel’s case, DNA was collected by our forensic services unit,’ Harford County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Colonel William Davis said at a press conference on Thursday.
After the DNA was analyzed and run through a national registry, investigators discovered it matched DNA collected from an unsolved home invasion and assault that took place in March 2023.
The suspect was caught on a doorbell camera after a home invasion and assault in Los Angeles (Picture: Twitter/@Harford_Sheriff)
‘Unfortunately, that suspect has not been positively identified. But he did leave behind his DNA,’ Col Davis said.
Investigators revealed few details about the second case, and only said the assault victim was a young girl.
The short clip captured on a doorbell camera shows a shirtless, muscular man leaving a home. The sheriff’s office has asked the community for any information concerning the man in video, who they are considering their prime suspect.
‘We believe the suspect to be about 5’09”, 160 pounds, and of Hispanic decent,’ Col Davis said.
Davis said investigators currently believe the murder could be a ‘random act of violence.’
‘We believe this was a person that Rachel probably didn’t know,’ Davis said.
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‘Unfortunately, that suspect has not been positively identified. But he did leave behind his DNA.’