Suspect in Rachel Morin's death on Maryland trail linked to LA assault by DNA, police say

The man suspected of killing a Maryland woman on a popular hiking trail this month is the same person who assaulted a young girl in Southern California in the spring, according to DNA results, investigators announced Thursday.

Hartford County (Maryland) Sheriff's Col. William Davis said DNA from the person who likely killed Rachel Morin in a 'violent homicide' matched the DNA of a man who assaulted a young girl in Los Angeles during a March home invasion.

Davis, at a Thursday evening press conference, shared video of the person investigators believe to be responsible for the assault. The brief clip from a security cam positioned outside the Southern California home showed a shirtless man exiting a house with his face not visible.

The Los Angeles Police Department told USA TODAY the home invasion occurred on March 26 at 3:20 a.m. and said they could not share further information about the incident.

"We believe the suspect acted alone," Davis said of Morin's killing.

Davis said investigators believe the suspect is a 5-foot, 9-inch tall man in his mid 20s who weighs about 160 pounds.

"I think now it leads us down the path that we believe this was a person that Rachel probably didn't know," Davis said. "Potentially a random act of violence."

Morin killed in 'violent homicide', police say

Officials found Morin's body on Aug. 6 near the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland and said she was a "victim of a violent homicide."

Morin was reported as a missing person on Aug. 5 around 11:20 p.m. when her boyfriend said she did not return from her walk. She was last seen on the trail around 6 p.m. and her vehicle was found near the trail, according to the the sheriff’s office.

Authorities interviewed Morin's boyfriend and other people close to her as part of the investigation, Hartford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said in a video posted to the Sherriff's office Facebook page Aug. 9. He added that investigators working on the case received over 300 tips from the community.

“This was an intentional taking of a person’s life,” Gahler said in the video. "Together we will solve this crime and find the heinous coward who took Rachel Morin from her family and friends."

Davis on Thursday said investigators have no clue where the suspect can be or if he's even in the state of Maryland. He encouraged residents to be alert when walking on trails and to avoid walking alone.

Authorities are hoping by releasing photos and the video of the suspect the public can help identify the suspect. Anyone with information relating to the investigation is encouraged to call (410) 836-7788 or email RMtips@HarfordSheriff.org.

Contributing: Francisco Guzman

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rachel Morin murder suspect linked by DNA to LA March assault of child