Los Angeles, CA — A local youth soccer coach made his initial court appearance on Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles, facing charges relating to the death of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez, whose body was discovered beside a road in Ventura County. Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43, was charged after the boy, last seen on March 28, was found deceased in Oxnard five days later. The arraignment was postponed to a later date.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman on Monday disclosed Garcia-Aquino faces a murder charge with special circumstances including lewd acts with a child. It is alleged that Garcia-Aquino murdered Hernandez on the same day he was last seen. Alongside this, Garcia-Aquino faces felony charges regarding an unrelated incident involving a 16-year-old in Palmdale over a year ago.
Oscar Omar Hernandez was reported missing two days after he was last seen leaving for Lancaster to meet Garcia-Aquino, who he knew through an after-school soccer program. According to Hernandez’s family, Oscar intended to assist his coach with making soccer jerseys. Hernandez’s family initiated a report to the Los Angeles Police Department after losing contact with him.
Following a detailed investigation with assistance from the FBI, law enforcement found a body in an area near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard that matched the description of Oscar. The discovery followed an intensive investigation led by LAPD detectives who took over the case shortly after the boy vanished.
In light of these developments, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna urged additional victims to come forward. Luna highlighted Garcia-Aquino’s role as a coach for the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club and noted a prior incident in 2024 where a Sylmar family reported their juvenile son was sexually abused by Garcia-Aquino during an overnight stay.
During a press release, Luna reassured potential witnesses or victims to reach out regardless of their immigration status, emphasizing the significance of the case and the safety of potential victims who come forward. Authorities have provided contact information for the LAPD’s Juvenile Division and the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau for tips or reports related to Garcia-Aquino or other potential cases.
If convicted, Garcia-Aquino faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole concerning Hernandez’s murder, along with additional time for assaults from other cases. The question of whether the case will see the pursuit of the death penalty remains with the District Attorney’s office, which plans to discuss this in future proceedings.
As the legal process unfolds, the community remains in shock over the tragic loss of a young boy and the disturbing allegations surrounding his death. The Hernandez family, having moved from Honduras a few years ago, believe that Garcia-Aquino may have exploited families with precarious legal status in the United States.
This case has highlighted the crucial role of trusted community figures and the vulnerabilities within community networks. Officials continue to explore Garcia-Aquino’s involvement in the community, seeking to ensure such tragic incidents are prevented in the future.