Morin’s mother set to testify before Congress

Patty Morin addresses the crowd before a song and prayer to honor her daughter Rachel to mark the one year anniversary of the murder of the 37-year old Bel Air mother of five on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail. Kenneth K. Lam/Staff

Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, who was killed on the Ma and Pa Heritage Trail last year, is scheduled to testify before Congress on Tuesday on the topic of immigration policy, according to the family’s attorney.

Patty Morin is set to testify before the House Judiciary Committee at a hearing titled: “The Biden-Harris Border Crisis: Victim Perspective,” her attorney, Randolph Rice, said in a news release. The hearing begins at 10 a.m.

The man suspected of killing Rachel Morin, Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 23, of El Salvador, was arrested in June. Prosecutors say he entered the U.S. illegally.

Martinez-Hernandez is charged with first- and second-degree murder; first- and second-degree rape; and third-degree sex offense and kidnapping in connection with Rachel Morin’s death. He is being held without bail in the Harford County Detention Center.

Patty Morin’s planned testimony is not the first time the Morin family has spoken publicly about illegal immigration following Morin’s death. In July, the family was invited to attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. During the convention, Michael Morin said his sister’s death happened because of broken immigration laws.

Rice’s news release stated that Patty Morin is expected to discuss how the suspect’s ability to enter the U.S. illegally created an “opportunity for the tragedy and how policies need to change to prevent other families from suffering a similar loss.”

“Patty’s courage in speaking out during such a difficult time is admirable,” Rice said in the news release. “This hearing provides a crucial platform to shed light on the consequences of our nation’s border policies, and we hope her voice helps create meaningful change.”