Mother Of Murdered Maryland Woman Criticizes Senator

In a heart-wrenching press briefing at the White House on April 16, 2025, Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, spoke out against Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen's recent trip to El Salvador, criticizing his lack of acknowledgment of her daughter's brutal murder. Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was raped and murdered in August 2023 by Victor Martinez-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador.

Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty earlier this week of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sexual offense, and kidnapping. Law enforcement revealed that he entered the U.S. illegally and has known ties to gangs. Patty Morin's appearance at the White House came just days after the jury's verdict, which she described as a small measure of justice for her family.

During her emotional address, Patty Morin recounted the horrific details of her daughter's death on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Bel Air, Maryland. "When she went on that trail that day, she was not planning on dying. She wasn't planning on walking to her death," Morin told reporters. "She was planning on going to the grocery store with her girls afterwards."

Morin described how Martinez-Hernandez waited for Rachel, attacked her when no one was around, and dragged her 150 feet, leaving a trail of blood. "He dragged her 150 feet, blood gushing from her head," she said, emphasizing the brutality of the crime. "He used rocks to hammer her head against them at least 20 times, crushing her skull like an eggshell." The details were so graphic that Patty Morin urged the press to report the truth about the violence her daughter faced.

Morin's plea to the press was simple yet powerful: "Please tell the truth. Tell how violent it really is. This is about protecting our children. It's more than just politics or votes or anything, it's about national security." Her words resonated as she highlighted the impact of her daughter's murder on her family, leaving five children without their mother.

Meanwhile, Senator Van Hollen was in El Salvador on the same day, where he aimed to visit Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident deported during the Trump administration. Garcia, who has been accused of having ties to the MS-13 gang, was the subject of a controversial deportation that the Justice Department labeled an "administrative error." Van Hollen's trip raised eyebrows, especially in light of the timing with Patty Morin's press briefing.

Morin expressed her frustration at Van Hollen's actions, stating, "To have a senator from Maryland who didn't even acknowledge, or barely acknowledge, my daughter and the brutal death that she endured... Why does that person have more right than I do, or my daughter or my grandchildren?" Her comments underscored a deep sense of injustice and anger over the political priorities that seemed to overshadow her family's tragedy.

In response to the conviction of Rachel Morin's killer, Van Hollen issued a statement emphasizing the need for border security while also supporting immigrant communities. He stated, "While the conviction of Rachel Morin’s killer will not return Rachel to her family where she rightfully belongs, this verdict brings a measure of justice that they so deserve." However, his visit to El Salvador during such a sensitive time left many questioning his priorities.

As Patty Morin shared her daughter's story, she described the gruesome nature of the crime, detailing how Martinez-Hernandez not only raped but also strangled Rachel to prevent her from surviving to tell her story. "You could see where the blood ran down around her as he was raping her, and then he threw her down, and raped her some more, and then he strangled her because he didn't want her to be able to live to tell the story," she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Morin's determination to bring attention to her daughter's murder and the plight of families affected by violent crimes was evident. "These are the kind of criminals President Trump wants to remove from our country," she asserted. "These are the kind of criminals that we need to remove from our country. We are American citizens. Why should we allow people like this, violent criminals that have no conscience at all to murder our mothers, our sisters, our daughters?"

In a moment of solidarity, Patty Morin met with President Trump, who referred to her as a "dear friend." In a video shared by Dan Scavino, Trump expressed his condolences, saying, "You're daughter is looking down proud, you know that right? Just keep it going." This meeting highlighted a connection between Morin's personal tragedy and broader political narratives surrounding immigration and crime.

The Supreme Court also weighed in on the matter, upholding a lower court's order that requires the government to facilitate Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador. While Van Hollen met with El Salvador’s Vice President Félix Augusto Antonio Ulloa Garay, he was denied access to Garcia at the prison known as the "Terrorism Confinement Center" (CECOT). Van Hollen vowed to continue pressing for a meeting with Garcia, stating, "I am going to keep pressing. I will keep pressing in my remaining time here, and I will keep pressing beyond that if necessary."

As the aftermath of Rachel Morin's murder continues to unfold, the emotional impact on her family and the ongoing discussions about immigration policy and crime remain at the forefront of public discourse. Patty Morin's courageous stand at the White House serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of violence and the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to national security that prioritizes the safety of American citizens.