MD Mom's Homicide: Daughter Confident Harford Detectives Will Find Killer

BEL AIR, MD — Despite the release of a 30-second commercial featuring a plea from the mom of a slain Bel Air mother of five asking for the public's help in finding her daughter's killer, no new information has emerged, according to the law firm representing the family of Rachel Morin.

No arrests have been made yet in the brutal slaying of Morin, 37, whose body was found along the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air eight months ago. Her eldest daughter, and a former partner of Morin, said they're confident investigators will find the person who attacked Morin last summer.

Cristie Hopkins, spokesperson for the Harford County Sheriff's Office, told Patch that work is being done every day on Morin's case.

"At this time, there is no addition investigative information being released. We are far from calling this a cold case, as there is still much work being done with data and information to carefully examine and review. While tips continue to come in, there has not been increased traffic since the release of the commercial," Hopkins told Patch.

"As cases occur across the state or country that have similar details to Rachel’s case, we immediately reach out to local law enforcement. If the suspect’s DNA was catalogued into the CODIS database, from another crime, we would be alerted," Hopkins added. "At this time, we have not been alerted to any DNA CODIS matches, with the exception of the case from Los Angeles."

Matt McMahon, the father of Rachel Morin's oldest daughter Faye, 18, reached out to Patch and said the video likely hasn't generated leads because it doesn't provide the type of information that would procure valuable information. But, he and his daughter have full faith that investigators are dedicated to finding the killer.

"When Tim Pappa was here, the former FBI profiler, he mentioned how that video wouldn’t be helpful because it lacks details," McMahon said. "That video aside, the HCSO does continue to move forward on the investigation in several directions; however, I can’t give details. Otherwise it would reveal the approach the investigation is taking to track down the suspect.

"I was recently reassured that the HCSO still has three detectives dedicated to the case. Being that they still feel it necessary to dedicate that many detectives shows that they still have quite a lot of information to sort through and leads to follow," McMahon said. "They are making process. Faye and I have complete faith in their work and believe they will identify and apprehend the suspect."

The Rice, Murtha, Psoras law firm originally hired by some Morin family members released the video about two weeks ago. The video aired in Southern California — where an attack there is believed to have been committed by the person who killed Morin — as both a tribute to the Bel Air mother of five and a plea for justice from her loved ones.

(See the video posted to YouTube below.)

"The video has received a lot of comments and shares, but we have not heard of any leads," Randolph Rice with the law firm Rice, Murtha, Psoras told Patch. "I think the family is still having a hard time comprehending that Rachel is dead and that this guy is still not caught with so much information (DNA, video, sketch)."

The commercial can be seen on YouTube and ran on social media platforms in Bel Air, Los Angeles and border towns along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Related:

• Rachel Morin's Family Releases Video Pleading For Help In Solving Her Homicide
• Hunt Continues For Rachel Morin Murder Suspect, Labeled Serial Killer
• Rachel Morin Case: 'We Haven't Given Up Hope' Sheriff Says Of Manhunt
• Rachel Morin Slaying: Suspect Search Turns To Los Angeles
• Rachel Morin Homicide Suspect Hunt Continues In 2024
• Rachel Morin Headstone Unveiled By Family As Hunt For Suspect Goes On

A sketch was released in February of the suspect sought in Morin's homicide case (see images below), along with details never before released by the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Jeffrey Gahler, Harford County sheriff, has said he believes the man who took Morin's life is a serial killer.

According to investigators, the suspect is a Hispanic man in his early to mid-20s and estimated to be 5’9" and weighing around 160 pounds.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office shared in a podcast that the investigation has led them to seven different states with 10 federal, state and local agencies assisting. Thousands of bilingual flyers have been distributed in Maryland and California, where a DNA analysis of Morin's crime scene matched DNA found at a home invasion and assault of a young girl in Los Angeles.

Rice told Patch that the law firm is unaware of any other cases that have been linked to the suspect's DNA other than the assault case in Los Angeles. Doorbell camera video provided by the Los Angeles Police Department captured a brief clip of that man leaving the scene of the reported home invasion and assault in California.

Rice also told Patch that the law firm is working on more awareness campaigns, but won't release those for a couple more weeks.

Anyone with information about Morin's killing is asked to call the Harford County Sheriff's Office at 410-836-7788 or email a tip to investigators at [email protected]. A $35,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction is still being offered.

To learn more about contributing to the Rachel Morin Reward Fund, individuals can visit the law firm's dedicated website at https://ricelawmd.com/reward.

Anyone with information about the assault in Howard County should contact police at 410-313-STOP or [email protected]. Anyone with information about the attack in Frederick County should call 888-653-0009 or email [email protected]. People can also submit an anonymous tip by visiting go.nps.gov/SubmitATip.

Related:

• Rachel Morin Family Asks For Worldwide Prayers For Justice
• Digital Ad Campaign Launched To Help Find Rachel Morin's Killer
• Profiler Helping With Rachel Morin Case, No Suspect Arrested Yet
• Rachel Morin's Family Mourns Loss Of 'Bright, Beautiful Spark'
• Rachel Morin Killer Might Strike Again, $10K Reward Offered: Sheriff
• Rachel Morin Reward Fund Rises As Homicide Suspect Remains At Large
• Suspect Sketch, New Details Released In Rachel Morin Homicide
• Women Attacked On Park Trails In Howard, Frederick Counties: Police
• 5 Potential Witnesses Contacted In Mom Rachel Morin's Death: Sheriff
• Photos, Videos Sought From Site Where Rachel Morin's Body Was Found