Sheriff Gahler Launches Homicide Investigation After Body Found On Ma & Pa Trail

HARFORD COUNTY - The Harford County Sheriff's Office has launched a homicide investigation after a body was discovered near a trail in Bel Air on Sunday.

Sheriff Jeff Gahler announced that the body is suspected to be that of Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old who had been reported missing since Saturday evening after she left her residence to walk the Ma & Pa Trail.

According to Gahler, the remains are now with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for official identification and to ascertain the cause and manner of death. Although the final determination is pending the medical examiner's review, officials clarified that investigators "have no doubt" that foul play was involved in the woman's death.

Gahler, who lives near the Ma&Pa trail, expressed his condolences to Morin's family in his statement.

"There are days when I absolutely love being the sheriff of Harford County, and this is not one of those days," Gahler said.

Police said that Morin was last known to be walking the trail around 6 p.m. on Saturday and was reported missing by her boyfriend later that night. On Sunday morning, the Harford County Sheriff's Office appealed to the public via social media for information regarding her whereabouts, mentioning that Morin's car was found near the trail's access point on Williams Street.

The body was found by a citizen who had seen the Sheriff's Office appeals for information.

Gahler said that no suspects have been identified in relation to the homicide, and it remains unclear if Morin was specifically targeted.

Anyone with relevant information or surveillance camera footage of the trail is asked to contact the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

Residents are also advised to be vigilant when walking the trail and consider carrying a whistle for safety.

Most of the trail has reopened as of Monday morning as forensics teams continue to investigate the area where the woman's body was found.

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