'Angel Moms' Honored After Daughters' Murders by Undocumented Immigrants Shatter Lives

Two Maryland mothers, Patty Morin and Tammy Nobles, were honoured as 'Angel Moms' by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Mother’s Day. Their recognition follows the tragic murders of their daughters, Rachel Morin and Kayla Hamilton, in separate cases involving undocumented immigrants with violent backgrounds. Both families now face a lifetime of grief after losing their loved ones in brutal attacks. Tammy Nobles’ daughter, Kayla Hamilton, was just 20 years old when she was killed on July 27, 2022. The young woman, who had high-functioning autism, was discovered bound and unconscious in her bedroom near Aberdeen, Maryland. An autopsy later confirmed she had been strangled.

Walter Javier Martinez, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, was arrested for the crime. At the time of the murder, he was 17 and reportedly linked to the MS-13 gang. In 2024, a court sentenced him to 70 years in prison for Hamilton’s death. Tammy Nobles has since spoken about the unending pain of her loss, describing the void left by her daughter as something she must carry forever.

Less than a year later, on August 6, 2023, Patty Morin’s daughter, Rachel Morin, was found dead in Harford County. The 37-year-old mother of five had been out for a run when she was attacked. Victor Martinez-Hernandez, another El Salvador-native, was later convicted of her murder. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The recognition of Morin and Nobles as 'Angel Moms' highlights the lasting impact of their daughters’ murders. Both cases resulted in lengthy prison terms for the convicted killers, but the families continue to live with the consequences of their losses. The sentencing ensures neither perpetrator will be released, though it cannot undo the harm already done.