According to Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler, a 37-year-old woman who went missing the night before was the likely identity of a body found off a popular trail on Sunday. The medical examiner must verify the identity. “That’s the way this is going to go but we have to let the process do what it’s supposed to do,” Gahler said.
On Saturday evening, around 6 o’clock, Rachel Morin allegedly visited the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air. Her partner reported her missing around 11:20 p.m. after she didn’t show up at their house. The trailhead on Williams Street is where Morin’s car was found.
Then, on Sunday at around 1 p.m., a volunteer looking for Morin reportedly located his body, as stated by Gahler. The death is being treated as a possible homicide by police.
The tweet below verifies the news:
We are awaiting an update from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation into a missing woman last seen along a popular hiking trail in Bel Air.
We will bring you more details when we get them. @wjz pic.twitter.com/O6fYcnC3Sw
— Jessica Albert (@JessicaAlbertTV) August 6, 2023
“They set up a command center here so we figured that it was something rather grave that had happened to that poor woman,” Bel Air resident Kathy Tunney said.
After deputies spent several hours investigating the scene, the path was cleared. “We understand this homicide causes a lot of concern. It causes a lot of concern for us,” Gahler said. “The trail is one of our major parks and recs assets that runs through a lot of different parts of Harford County.”
The California Examiner is a must-read for anybody living in the Golden State:
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WJZ reports that locals have expressed surprise at the presence of investigators in their usually peaceful neighborhood. “My daughter was just out running this morning to the end of the trail and back,” Tunney said. “So we enjoy it and we enjoy living next to it. I have never felt afraid.”
Gahler stated that as deputies investigate, there would be a heightened police presence along the entire trail. The sheriff also stresses the importance of vigilance to trail users. “We ask anyone walking on the trail to always be aware of your surroundings,” Gahler said.
“The earbuds are great, they help you exercise, but it can also prevent you from being aware of your surroundings. If possible, walk or run with a friend, buddy-up, or consider wearing a whistle or an alert device, and let your family know where you are. If you see something that doesn’t make you feel comfortable, and you feel suspicious about it, take out your phone and call 911 and let law enforcement respond.”
Gahler has stated that he cannot provide assurance that the public is safe. “I can’t do it,” he finally admitted.
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