Rachel Morin Murder: Community Hosts Holiday Fundraiser to Help Maryland Mom’s 5 Kids

A Maryland community organized a fundraiser for the children of Rachel Morin, a mother of five who was found dead after an evening hike near her home three months ago.

Box Hill Pizzeria and Crab Cakes in Abingdon dedicated Nov. 24 to Morin, who went missing after visiting the Ma & Pa Heritage trail on Aug. 5.

The 37-year-old's body was discovered inside a nearby tunnel the following day.

"I know (the children are) going through a difficult time," Tom Kanaras, the restaurant's owner, told news station WBAL.

He continued: "It just makes me feel good that we're able to do it, and it makes me feel good that the customers are responding to it."

The restaurant's manager, Nico Kanaras, created the fundraiser with a plan of giving 10% of every check throughout the day to Morin's children in the hopes the restaurant can help provide them with some happiness this holiday season.

"Ten percent of every check that comes in this door all day long — shipping, online ordering, our marketplace next door, everything," Nico told the outlet of what was going to the family.

"So, we're just really hoping to give these kids a good Christmas," he added.

Morin's sister, Rebekah Morin, said the funds from the event will go toward gifts and a trust created for her sister's children.

"I want to make sure that the things that Rachel would have done get done for her kids," Rebekah told WBAL. "That is my goal."

Rachel's brother told The Messenger in September that the children are "really struggling" and have "a lot of questions" about what happened to their mom.

Initially lacking leads, detectives investigating Morin's murder found a breakthrough via DNA evidence at the crime scene.

The sample matched an unidentified man wanted for a home invasion and sexual assault of a juvenile in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Described as a Hispanic male in his early to mid-20s, approximately 5-foot-9, and weighing 160 lbs, the man was filmed on home surveillance footage captured during the Los Angeles incident.

Despite the lack of a clear image of his face, efforts are ongoing to identify him.

Since then, the family has supported police efforts to identify the killer by distributing flyers around Maryland and Los Angeles and offering a reward of $30,000 for information leading to the suspect.

Attorney Randolph Rice, who represents Morin's family, says they recently sent letters to principals of five Los Angeles high schools near where the suspect was seen.

They hope someone will give them the lead, eventually leading police to him.

"We believe he is familiar with this area, and thus, he would have ties to the community, such as a former student in one of the local high schools," Rice told The Messenger last week.

He added: "We hope a teacher, staff, or a current student in one of the five high schools around the Los Angeles crime scene will recognize him and provide his name."