As the backlash against the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged gang member from El Salvador, continues to heat up, one Maryland mother shared her family’s horrific experience when their daughter was killed by an illegal immigrant. Patty Morin was attending the White House press office, which she opened in prayer. “This is probably going to be one of the highlights of my life, being able to be a part of a prayer meeting at the White House, because there’s no greater God than the one that we serve,” she stated. “And because there’s no greater God, He has a purpose and plan for all of us being here at this moment in time. And even the death that happened to Rachel is part of His purpose.”

Morin’s daughter, Rachel, was out for a jog when illegal immigrant Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez from El Salvador attacked her, beat her with rocks, raped her, and strangled her to death in 2023. Martinez-Hernandez had previously been deported from the country and crossed the border during President Biden’s presidency. He was recently convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sexual offense and kidnapping in relation to Rachel’s death. After her prayer, during which she asked God to “push back at the enemy and cause confusion in their camp,” Morin opened up about the horrific details of her daughter’s death. “If you’re a mother here in the room, can you imagine standing there alive, you’re alive, someone comes and puts their hands into your chest and rips out your heart. That’s what it feels like,” she said.

She shared that pictures of her daughter’s brutalized body had been sealed because she didn’t want her grandchildren to see them. “He picks her up, he throws her against the wall. Blood is gushing from her head. Her hair is soaked in blood. They showed us pictures of her body against the wall, the blood outlined her body, and you could see where the blood ran down around her as he was raping her,” she stated. “And then he threw her down and raped her some more. And then he strangled her, because he didn’t want her to be able to live to tell the story.”

After receiving condolences from several members of the press, Morin exhorted them to tell the truth. “Tell how violent it really is. It’s more than politics. It’s about national security. It’s about protecting Americans. It’s about protecting our children,” she said. She has also been critical of Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who flew out to El Salvador in solidarity with Abrego Garcia. “To have a senator from Maryland who didn’t even acknowledge – barely acknowledged my daughter and the brutal death that she endured, leaving her five children without a mother, and now a grandbaby without a grandmother, so that he can use my taxpayer money to fly to El Salvador to bring back someone that is not even an American citizen…Why does that person have more right than I do for my daughter or my grandchildren? I don’t understand this,” said Morin. Records have been shared that Abrego Garcia was accused of domestic violence against his wife. After the meeting, Morin met with President Trump, who embraced her. “Your daughter is looking down proud of you,” he said. “You know that.”