DNA evidence links Rachel Morin's accused killer to crime scene, police say
The prosecution has rested its case after six days of testimony in the case against the man charged with murdering Rachel Morin.
A video seen by the public for the first time today shows the first interview with accused murderer Victor Martinez-Hernandez after he was arrested in June of 2024.
It will likely be the only time we hear directly from Martinez-Hernandez before the jury determines his fate.
DNA links Hernandez to the crime
"We are investigating…the murder of a female…and we collected DNA from the crime scene," a police detective explained to Hernandez after he was taken in by authorities in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
"But I haven't done anything," Hernandez replied, denying any involvement in Rachel Morin's murder.
"You have never hurt or murdered anyone," detectives asked.
"No," Hernandez answered.
However, extensive DNA testimony on Friday afternoon from Tiffany Keener with the Maryland State Police Crime lab unveiled that DNA found on Morin's body was a match to Martinez-Hernandez.
"This is the key that ties everything together that we've heard for the last six days now. As the DNA wraps up the crime scene and what happened to Rachel Morin and everything that was found there to the suspect that they arrest in Tulsa, Oklahoma," Randolph Rice, the attorney representing Morin's family, stated. "So, this a very important day that puts a bow on this whole case."
1 in 400 nonillion chance
Tiffany Keener explained that she produced six reports between August of 2023 and July of 2024.
She began detailing what was found during that first report, which focused on DNA at the crime scene.
She explained that DNA from an unknown male was found on Morin's neck, left wrist, breasts, and an Apple watch.
She later testified after testing items collected from family members of Martinez-Hernandez that the likelihood of someone else matching that DNA profile is 1 in 400 nonillions. That would be 400, with thirty zeroes in the U.S. Hispanic community.
"I would say that's a pretty good probability that it's not somebody else out in the world, it's got to be the defendant here," Rice confirmed.
Even before that DNA match was officially made, when asked why his DNA was found at the crime scene, Martinez-Hernandez offered investigators his own explanation.
"In reality, I don't know. Today, there is so much technology, anyone could do damage to anyone," Hernandez said.
The defense will have a chance to introduce any witnesses on Monday before the jury heads into deliberations.
