HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND: Rachel Morin's boyfriend pleaded his innocence after her body was found on the same walking trail where she went missing a day ago. The 37-year-old mother-of-five was last seen at around 6 pm on Saturday, August 5, when she left her house to take a hike on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland.
When Morin failed to return home, her boyfriend, Richard Tobin, filed a missing person complaint, telling police that her car was parked near the entrance of the trail. However, when police arrived at the scene, she wasn't in the vehicle. On Sunday, August 6, a passerby called 911 to report that they found the body of a woman off the trail. “We firmly believe this is the body of Rachel Morin," Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said before adding that the remains have yet to be officially identified by the medical examiner. Gahler further remarked that the situation where the deceased woman was discovered was 'sadly' consistent with murder.
Who is Richard Tobin?
Officials have not named a suspect yet but Tobin recently came forward to plead his innocence. Following the police update, the boyfriend took to his Facebook page to claim that he'd "never do anything to her". In his statement, he said, "I love Rachel, I would never do anything to her, let the family and I grieve. Yes, I have a past but I also have 15 months clean and have changed as a person. Please," he wrote underneath their recent relationship status update. The pair only started dating on August 1, according to their joint social media post.
Not much is known about Tobin, but as per Daily Mail, he had a lengthy criminal history, which includes two arrests for criminal second-degree assault, violating restraining orders, drug possession, and malicious destruction of property. Documents reveal that Tobin also has convictions for a variety of traffic violations, being a fugitive from justice, resisting arrest, and disorderly drunkenness and behavior. His most recent misdemeanor on record — second-degree assault — occurred on March 14, 2020. The earliest of his 26 arrests was for a DUI in Pennsylvania on March 9, 2016, to which he had pleaded guilty.
'This was not an accidental death'
Morin was last seen wearing a black sports bra, black spandex shorts, grey trainers, and a blue or black tank top. Her car was also located at the Williams Street entrance to the trail. While authorities are waiting for a medical report to determine the cause of Morin’s death, her sister, on her GoFundMe Page, stated that she believes her death was "not accidental" and that she "did not go willingly." She said, "It is with devastating sadness and a broken heart that our family has been hit with yet another heartbreak. My sister, Rachel Morin went missing on Saturday, August 5 2023 around 6 pm. In less than 24 hours her body was found by local law enforcement. This was not an accidental death, and she did not go willingly and she deserves a funeral worthy of her beauty." The fundraiser, set up to raise funds for Morin’s children, has already received $21,386 in donations and is close to reaching its $25,000 goal.
