Soccer Coach Charged with Murder in Death of 13-Year-Old Boy 1 Week After He Was Reported Missing

• Oscar Omar Hernandez was last seen with soccer coach Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino before his family reported him missing on March 30
• Los Angeles officials charged Garcia Aquino with murder, alleging that he killed Hernandez on March 28
• Garcia Aquino also faces unrelated assault charges for allegedly committing a “lewd act” against a 16-year-old in 2024

A soccer coach who is suspected of killing 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez has been charged with murder, the Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a Monday, April 7, press conference. 

Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, 43, was charged with special circumstance allegation that the murder happened during the commission of another violent felony, such as a robbery or rape. He faces a sentence of at least life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

Hernandez was allegedly last seen with Garcia Aquino on Friday, March 28, after he boarded a Metrolink train to Palmdale, Calif., to help Garcia Aquino, his family said, per ABC 7. Hochman alleged that Garcia Aquino murdered Hernandez that same day. When Hernandez didn’t return home, his family reported him missing on Sunday, March 30. 

The Los Angeles Police Department found Hernandez deceased in Oxnard, Calif., in a ditch on Wednesday, April 2. Oxnard is approximately 93 miles southwest of Palmdale. Authorities have not revealed what evidence led them to discover Hernandez’s body in the remote area.

The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department (LACSD) Homicide Bureau, the L.A. Police Department, and the FBI worked on the missing persons case. Now, the LACSD is leading the investigation. It is believed Hernandez was killed in the Antelope Valley, which is an area patrolled by the LACSD.

His cause of death has not been revealed. 

Garcia Aquino is also facing assault charges unrelated to Hernandez’s death, Hochman said. On Feb. 22, 2024, Garcia Aquino was charged with felony of assault with intent to commit a lewd act against a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale. Garcia Aquino, who was arrested on the charge two days after Hernandez’s body was found, faces six years in prison if convicted.

Garcia Aquino did not have a criminal history before the February 2024 assault change and was a youth travel coach with the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club and was working with different age divisions, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during the press conference.

In February 2024, the 16-year-old boy’s family, based in Sylmar, Calif., allowed him to stay with Garcia Aquino at his Palmdale residence. Palmdale is 40 miles northeast of Sylmar. 

“The family subsequently filed a criminal report with the Palmdale Sheriff’s station alleging sexual abuse of their child,” Luna said. “This case was assigned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau North team, who is tasked with investigating physical and sexual abuse of children, including adult felonious sexual assaults.” 

During the investigations, detectives learned there was another unrelated child sexual abuse case involving Garcia Aquino being handled by the LAPD’s Foothill Division.

Now, as part of this investigation, Luna and Hochman are asking the public to report any potential victims of Mr. Garcia Aquino to the LACSD, LAPD or Hochman’s office. 

“For some reason, anybody fears coming forward, even as a youth or a family, because you may be here undocumented, we’re not going to ask about that. Please, you need to come forward. We will assist you,” Luna said.

Anyone with information regarding this case, or who believes that they have may have been a victim, is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-5273.

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