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Sheriff Refutes Volunteer Searcher’s Claims About Hiker Mom Rachel Morin’s Discovery
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A man who has been talking with media around the world about the discovery of the body of hiker mom Rachel Morin on Sunday “has no firsthand knowledge” about the crime, authorities in Harford County say.

Multiple media outlets led their stories by claiming that Michael Grabiszeski found the 37-year-old mother of five’s body during a search of the Ma and Pa Trail, although he made clear that it was his daughter — who he said was a friend of Morin’s — and another friend who found the body, as CrimeOnline originally reported.

“I kept telling them to search the tunnels, because I had a feeling about these tunnels,” Gabriszeski said. “And I walked forward to search the one tunnel, and they searched the one, and that’s where they found her.”

On a second day of talking with media, Gabriszeski began offering details about the condition of Morin’s body, telling outlets he spoke with that Morin had severe head trauma, was found naked, and that “there’s not going to be an open casket funeral.” He also theorized that the killer was someone Morin knew.

Investigators have not released any information about a cause of death or the condition in which they found Morin’s body. But Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler told WBAL that Grabiszeski “did not find Rachel or witness her body. He has no firsthand knowledge of the crime scene.”

Gahler has said investigators do not have a “solid suspect” but declined to answer when asked if there was a person of interest.

Morin was reported missing late Saturday night by her boyfriend, Richard Tobin, who told police she’d gone out for a run at about 6 p.m. and hadn’t returned. He also told police her car could be found at the Williams Street entrance to the trail, where investigators found it. On Sunday, after Morin’s body was found, he posted on social media that he loved her and would never do anything to hurt her despite his criminal record.

Gahler said that investigators have interviewed Tobin but declined to provide any other information.

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[Featured image: Rachel Morin/Facebook]