The trial of Victor Martinez-Hernandez, charged with the harrowing murder of Harford County mother Rachel Morin, is set to commence this week in Maryland. As jury selection begins, the spotlight is fixed on the high-profile case that has set a national conversation alight both due to Martinez-Hernandez's undocumented immigration status and the DNA evidence connecting him to other crimes. According to FOX Baltimore , Monday's pre-trial proceedings witnessed the denial of defense motions for juror questionnaires and sequestration, with the prosecution decrying them as "delay tactics."

The quest to form an impartial jury is anticipated to take up to three days, with the trial expected to last two weeks. While representing Morin’s family, Randolph Rice expressed confidence in finding a fair jury despite the local ties to the emotionally charged case. "They're always trying to find ways to sort of draw more information from the jurors, to get some piece of information if they may be biased or have some opinion about the case itself," Rice stated, as reported by FOX Baltimore .

Details from CBS Baltimore highlight that after an extensive manhunt, the arrest of Martinez-Hernandez was facilitated by the same investigative genetic genealogy technology that brought down other high-profile cases. Rice drew parallels to the technology's efficacy, mentioning its previous success in locating the suspect involved in the Idaho college student murders.

The preparatory actions for the trial don't just stop inside the courtroom. Bel Air Police are ramping up traffic management around the courthouse due to the considerable public interest and potential roadway congestion. Meanwhile, Morin’s relatives have endured a nearly two-year-long nightmare, as described by Patty Morin to CBS Baltimore . Patty recounted her fear that her daughter would become "the folder on the desk that I was afraid might happen." This trial holds significance not merely as a pursuit of justice but as a sentimentally grueling milestone for a family ripped apart.