A youth soccer coach has been charged with murder after a 13-year-old boy on his team was reported missing and later found dead.
Oscar Omar Hernandez, who had been missing since March 30, was discovered dead on April 2, near Leo Carrillo State Beach in Oxnard, California.
Oscar had gone to visit his coach, 43-year-old Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, two days before he was reported missing. Hernandez’s family reported him as missing after he failed to return home from a visit to Lancaster, where Garcia-Aquino lives.
The discovery of Oscar’s body prompted an investigation that led to Garcia-Aquino being charged with murder on Monday, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
In addition to the murder charge, Garcia-Aquino faces a felony count of assault with intent to commit a lewd act on a 16-year-old boy in a separate case.
This charge stems from an alleged incident that occurred in Palmdale on February 22, 2024. Garcia-Aquino was arrested last Wednesday in connection with both cases.
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“We are deeply sorry for the Hernandez family’s loss, and we are committed to holding the person responsible for these heinous acts accountable,” said District Attorney Hochman in a press briefing.
The circumstances surrounding Oscar’s death remain unclear, though authorities continue to investigate.
If convicted, Garcia-Aquino could face life without the possibility of parole or even the death penalty for the murder charge. The assault charge could add up to six additional years in prison.
Oscar’s family attended a press briefing on Monday, though they did not speak publicly. His mother, Gladys Bautista, expressed her heartbreak during a vigil held for Oscar, saying, “He didn’t need to be treated like an animal. That was my son.”
Garcia-Aquino, who had been a coach with a youth travel soccer club in the Sylmar area, did not have any known criminal history. Law enforcement is urging any other potential victims to come forward.
Authorities have reassured individuals, including undocumented immigrants, that they can report information without fear of repercussions.
