'He will do it again!' Police issue dire warning after mum-of-five murdered on hike
Rachel Morin was attacked and killed while out on a hike on the Ma and Pa trail in Bel Air in early August.
Detectives investigating the death of a mom-of-five killed while hiking in Maryland fear her murderer will strike again.
Rachel Morin, 37, had left her home to go on a walk on the Ma and Pa trail on Saturday August 5. Her boyfriend Richard Tobin reported her missing when she failed to come back and her body was found the following morning.
Police have now expanded their investigation into potential leads in Chicago and Los Angeles after DNA evidence found on Morin's body matched DNA left at a crime scene in LA where a young girl was violently attacked.
Fearing the mum-of-five could have been the victim of a serial attacker, detectives are now working on the assumption that the suspect "will do it again."
Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said his office has received hundreds of tips since they released CCTV footage of the suspect in the attack on the young girl in Los Angeles.
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Gahler told Law&Crime: "There’s nothing right now to stop him from doing it again. I believe, and our investigators believe, he will do it again."
Harford County Sheriff's Office confirmed last month the DNA found in the Los Angeles attack matched traces found near Morin.
Gahler continued: "We’re still asking for the public’s support to share that video, to check out the picture.
"Somebody out there will recognise him and know who he is. And I regret to say we have no idea where he is. I mean, he could be here in our community.”
He said detectives are still trying to establish whether Morin knew her attacker or if she was the victim of a crime of opportunity.
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Detectives accompanied the released of the CCTV footage with a brief statement: "The unknown male is described as being approximately 5’ 09’’ 160 pounds, approximately 20-30 years of age, dark hair, muscular build and is believed to be of Hispanic descent.
“This is not a current photo (within the last six months), and the subject’s hairstyle may have changed.
"This individual is believed to have ties to the Los Angeles area and may have been involved in violent crimes in other states.”
Morin's family came together last week to celebrate the mom-of-five's life, with mom Patty Morin thanking the community for the support they have shown to her and her grandchildren.
The woman said: "I think that’s really amazing. I have been trying for weeks to think about memories of Rachel that I can share because I knew this time was coming but my heart and my mind won’t let me go there because it’s too painful.”
American TV personality 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Duane Chapman this week also joined the search for the killer and appealed to his fans to help out.
Chapman reviewed the footage from the March attack, noticing a tight necklace around his neck and suggesting it looked like an accessory the suspect would often use.
He also suggested the crop cut he sported appeared to be military-issued.