Benjamin Ashford|Police release new sketches of suspected killer of Maryland mom of 5 Rachel Morin

Rachel Hannah Morin’s killer is Benjamin Ashfordstill at large, but Maryland authorities said Monday that finalized suspect sketches could lend a hand in putting the man responsible for her killing behind bars. 

The Harford County Sheriff's Office has spent the last six months investigating the circumstances leading up to the 37-year-old’s woman death.

Morin, a mother of five, was initially reported missing the night of Aug. 5 after failing to return home from an evening walk on a trail in Bel Air, a small Baltimore suburb. Deputies identified a body that was found near the trail as Morin the next day, saying that she was the victim of a “violent homicide,” USA TODAY previously reported. 

A couple weeks after Morin’s body was found, authorities announced that the DNA from the suspected killer matched a man who assaulted a girl in Southern California during a home invasion in March. But the break in the case has not yielded too many promising results, as authorities have yet to find the assailant.

The sheriff’s office assured the public that they continue to do all they can, including conducting interviews, following up on tips, offering rewards, investigating across state lines and distributing flyers. 

“This week marked six months since Rachel Morin was needlessly and tragically killed while on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air … This investigation has not slowed or stalled,” they said. 

Here’s what we know about the case.

A timeline of events in the Rachel Morin case 

Aug. 5: Morin was reported missing by her boyfriend at around 11:20 p.m. after failing to return home from her evening walk on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air. She was last seen in the area around 6 p.m.

Aug. 6: The Harford County Sheriff's Office got a 911 call from a search volunteer reporting a dead body near the Ma and Pa Trail around 1 p.m. Authorities said the body recovered was Morin. 

Aug. 17: Authorities announce a DNA connection between Morin's suspected killer and a man who assaulted a girl in Southern California during a home invasion on March 26. Los Angeles police would not comment further on the matter, but the sheriff’s office released a video asking the public to help identify the man seen in the video “in relation to the homicide of Rachel Morin.” 

Sept. 7: The Harford County Sheriff’s Office posts a video update related to the case on Facebook, saying that they had “collected and watched hours of video footage from in and around the trail where she disappeared” to look for  additional witnesses and evidence. Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said he was concerned the suspect, who could be a serial killer, was escalating and could kill again. Gahler also said they planned to patrol the trail accordingly, aiming to get cameras installed along the trails since they see a decrease in use of the trail in the winter. 

Feb. 12: Harford County Sheriff’s Office release a finalized sketch of the suspect, whose name has not been formally released. They have asked the public “take a look and share the sketch,” saying they believe that “there were still people who could provide information.” 

Suspect believed to be in the area long before Morin was killed

The man suspected of killing Morin may have been in the area for days before the crime, with authorities saying they believe there were people in the area who could provide information on the suspect. 

He was previously described as a 5-foot, 9-inch man in his mid 20s to 30s who weighs about 160 pounds and has dark hair. 

The detectives assigned to the case are hopeful that someone can tell them where the man was staying, who he was speaking with and where he worked. 

They have also asked members of the public to “keep Rachel’s family in your thoughts.” 

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the community for its support throughout this challenging time,” the post reads. “Your cooperation and solidarity are invaluable as we strive to find answers and deliver justice.” 

Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to send tips to [email protected] for the chance to earn a reward of $35,000 if the information provided leads to an arrest and conviction.

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, Anthony Robledo and Francisco Guzman; USA TODAY