Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin—a Maryland woman brutally murdered in 2023 by an illegal immigrant from El Salvador—has publicly criticized Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for his recent trip to El Salvador. The senator’s visit aimed to advocate for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national deported from the U.S. despite a court order halting his removal.
In an interview with Sean Hannity, Morin expressed her frustration, stating that Van Hollen and other Maryland Democrats failed to reach out to her family following her daughter’s death. She noted that the only Democrat who contacted her was Governor Wes Moore, and that was after she had spoken with former President Donald Trump.
“I’m actually angry. I’m actually outraged, but I’m too sad at the moment to show anger at the same time. He did not call our family; he did not give condolences. There was no action from the Democratic Party in any way… In Maryland, none of the senators did anything to help search for the murderer of my daughter,” Morin shared.
Morin detailed the horrific nature of her daughter’s murder, describing severe injuries inflicted by the assailant, Victor Martinez-Hernandez, who was convicted earlier this week. Martinez-Hernandez had illegally entered the U.S. and was also wanted for another homicide in El Salvador.
Morin detailed the gruesome nature of her daughter’s death with the hopes of shedding light on the type of person Democrats are scrutinizing Trump for deporting, and likewise, they are going through great lengths to retrieve.
“Three-fourths of her brain was hemorrhaged. Three-fourths of her skull was bashed in. She had a six-inch square in the back of her head where the skull was shattered, the way that you would crush an eggshell. Her face was bashed in…The murderer dragged her 150 yards as blood gushed out of her head,” Morin shared.
Morin had the opportunity to visit the White House on Wednesday and join White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during her press briefing to continue sharing her story with America and point out the double standard elected officials hold when it comes to “safety.”
She reiterated her message: “To have a senator from Maryland who didn’t even acknowledge, or barely acknowledge my daughter, and the brutal death that she endured… fly to El Salvador to bring back someone that’s not even an American citizen … I don’t understand this.”
Senator Van Hollen met with Salvadoran officials to discuss the case of Abrego Garcia, who is currently imprisoned in a high-security facility in El Salvador. Despite a U.S. court ruling against his deportation, the Trump administration proceeded with his removal, citing alleged gang affiliations, though no formal charges have been presented.
The Salvadoran government has refused to release Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., stating he is a Salvadoran citizen. Even if released, U.S. officials have indicated he would be subject to removal again upon return.
