The prime suspect in Rachel Morin’s murder is linked to a home invasion and rape of a girl in LA in March, and investigators fear he could strike again — potentially in every American community.
In a new interview, Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said police are working with the FBI to find and identify the man responsible for the murder and rape.
“This person poses a threat to every community from here to Los Angeles because we don’t know where he puts his head at night,” Gahler said.
Morin, 37, set out for a hike on Aug. 5 and left her car at the Williams Street trailhead in central Bel Air, Maryland, about 20 miles northeast of Baltimore.
Her body was discovered naked and beaten in a tunnel along the scenic Ma & Pa Heritage Trail the day after she disappeared.
A manhunt is currently underway for the unidentified suspect who committed the grizzly murder and rape on the West Coast earlier this year.
Rachel Morin (pictured) set out for a hike on Aug. 5 and left her car at the Williams Street trailhead in central Bel Air, Maryland, about 20 miles northeast of Baltimore
Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler (pictured) said the prime suspect in Morin’s murder was linked to a March rape in LA and investigators fear he could strike again
Gahler told Fox News Digital that law enforcement officials fear the man will continue to attack until he is found.
“This person has a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life and there is a risk that they will do something to someone else until they are arrested,” he said.
The concerned statements come just days after police released footage of a man they believe was involved in the murder.
Footage showed the suspect exiting a Los Angeles home after breaking into and assaulting an unidentified teenage girl.
DNA linked the girl’s rape in LA to the murder of Morin nearly 3,000 miles away.
Identifying the shirtless man in the March invasion clip is a “top priority” for police at the moment, Gahler said.
He added that police believe the man may have committed other acts of violence.
“I just don’t think you’re doing two things that are that serious, and that’s your starting point,” the Harford County Sheriff said.
“Most likely you were involved in other crimes,” he told the outlet.
Police are asking for tips from the public as it is “very likely someone there knows him and someone here knows him”.
Morin was last seen on August 5 leaving her home for a hike on the Ma and Pa Trail
Harford Sheriffs Thursday released this footage of a man they wanted to speak to as he exited a Los Angeles home he had broken into and assaulted a teenage girl inside
The unidentified suspect in the case is described as a Hispanic male between the ages of 20 and 30. He is about 1.70 meters tall, weighs about 75 kilograms and is muscular.
“We believe this was a person Rachel did not know, possibly an act of indiscriminate violence,” Colonel William Davis said at a news conference.
“We don’t know anything else about him other than he was in LA in March and we believe he’s the killer.”
Davis said they were not looking for accomplices and urged local people to be on their guard.
“We believe the suspect acted alone and did not represent the entire Harford County Hispanic community, with whom we are now working to identify this suspect,” he said.
“I know I can speak on behalf of the sheriff when I say we are very proud of this community.”
Gahler said ten officers were working to solve the case and they had received more than 100 tips — but he urged people to send in more, even if the information seemed inconsequential.
The man is seen leaving the house in Los Angeles. His DNA has been linked to the LA home invasion and the corpse of Morin
Morin in a picture shared by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in August, just before she was found murdered
Ten officers are working to solve the case and they have received more than 100 tips – but he urged people to send in more even if the information seemed inconsequential
Just days ago, Morin’s friend expressed his relief after police identified another suspect in her murder. Richard Tobin, 27, was the one who reported Morin missing after she went for a walk and failed to return home. He also found her car at the trailhead.
Tobin had given investigators a DNA sample and handed over his cell phone. He said, ‘I hope they found this scumbag, justice for Rachel.’ Rip, I love you, Rach.’
She had only recently declared her relationship with Tobin public on Facebook and it was unclear how long they had been together.
Gahler has made it clear in the weeks since her death that they do not believe Tobin is a suspect in the murder of the mother-of-five.
“At this time there is no evidence that he was involved. “But until we know who this guy is or if he acted alone, the whole world is a suspect,” Gahler said.
Tobin has maintained his innocence in the matter since her disappearance.
In a Facebook post, he wrote, “I love Rachel.” I would never harm her, let the family and I grieve. Yes, I have a past, but I’m also 15 months clean and I’ve changed as a person.”
Tobin has been arrested 14 times since 2014 on a variety of charges including drug trafficking, assault, disorderly conduct and evading arrest.
Morin recently announced on Facebook that she was in a relationship with Richard Tobin
This is the trail where Morin’s body was found on August 6th
Morin’s body is believed to have been found in one of the trail’s drainage tunnels
Law enforcement officials have not released a cause of death for the woman.
A source close to the family told in mid-August that the young mother had suffered severe head trauma.
“The injuries were so terrible that there will be no open coffin (at her funeral),” the source said.
A spokeswoman for the Harford County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the manner in which Morin was killed.
Her family said she did not leave “voluntarily” and that her death was “not an accident”.