Reward Increases To $10,000: Harford County Authorities Seek Information On Rachel Morin’s Unsolved Murder

HARFORD COUNTY - More than three weeks have passed since the body of Bel Air resident and mom of five Rachel Morin was found near the Ma and Pa Trail in Harford County.

As more time elapses without new evidence, authorities worry that the risk to public safety rises. On Monday, Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler told Fox News Digital that the suspect could be a serial killer.

"The violence associated with Rachel's case shows he has absolutely no care, no regard for human life. I believe he will continue to do it until he's captured," Gahler said. "He may be a serial killer. Serial killers all start somewhere. What he did in Los Angeles was certainly, I believe, in that direction. I believe it was his intention to inflict more serious physical harm."

According to police, Morin's body was found naked and "violently assaulted" on Aug. 5 after she was reported missing by her boyfriend, Richard Tobin, who told police that she did not return home from a walk on the Ma and Pa trail the night before.

At a press conference on Aug. 16, the Harford County Sheriff's Office announced that DNA evidence pulled from the crime scene matched DNA found at the scene of a March 2023 home invasion and sexual assault of a girl in Los Angeles.

"We think it was a person Rachel didn't know, and it was a potential random act of violence," Col. William Davis said at the news conference. "In light of this new evidence, I urge our residents to use caution when walking the trails. If you see something that makes you uncomfortable or is suspicious, act on those instincts and call 911."

Police additionally released a video of the suspect believed to be involved in Morin's murder. They are described as 20 to 30 years old, about 5'9" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with dark hair and a muscular build.

Officials have not clarified exactly how the suspect is believed to be connected to either crime or how the DNA sample was obtained.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office is offering a reward of $8,000 for information leading to an arrest. An additional reward of $2,000 is available through Metro Crime Stoppers.

Those with information on the homicide are urged to contact investigators through a dedicated tip email at rmtips@harfordsheriff.org.

On Sunday, several hundred people gathered with Morin's friends and family for a celebration of life ceremony at the Greater Grace World Outreach Church in Baltimore.

Morin's mother, Patty Morin, talked about what the walk for Morin held earlier this month meant to the family. She described the "unbearable" pain of finding out what had happened to her daughter, WBAL reports.

Editors Note: Patch editor Kristin Danley-Greiner contributed to this story. 

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