Introduction to the Case
The body of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez was found off the side of a road in Oxnard days after the San Fernando Valley boy was reported missing. Hernandez’s family reported him missing March 30 after he failed to answer calls or return from a visit with his soccer coach in the Lancaster/Palmdale area.
What to Know
- The body of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez was found off the side of a road in Oxnard days after the San Fernando Valley boy was reported missing.
- Hernandez’s family reported him missing March 30 after he failed to answer calls or return from a visit with his soccer coach in the Lancaster/Palmdale area.
- LA County prosecutors filed a murder charge with special circumstances Monday against 43-year-old Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino.
The Investigation
Prosecutors in Los Angeles filed a murder charge with special circumstances Monday in the disappearance and death of Oscar Omar Hernandez, the 13-year-old boy who vanished after visiting a soccer coach in the Antelope Valley last month. That coach, identified by Hernandez’s family as Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, was arrested last week by LAPD detectives investigating the teen’s disappearance, although he was booked on an unrelated assault charge from last year. LA authorities declined to share details on the circumstances surrounding the teen’s death.
Charges Against the Coach
The separate charge stemmed from an alleged sex assault against a 16-year-old in Palmdale on Feb. 22, 2024 when Garcia Aquino was a youth travel soccer coach with the Hurricane Valley Boy Soccer Club in the Sylmar area, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said. "Garcia Aquino befriended a Sylmar family who allowed their juvenile son to stay with him at his residence in Palmdale," Luna said, adding the family soon filed a criminal report with the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station. Officials, who said there may be additional victims, asked people with information to come forward regardless of their immigration status.
Call for Information
"If, for some reason, anybody fears coming forward even as a youth or family because you may be here undocumented, we’re not going to ask about that," Luna said. "Please, you need to come forward. We will assist you." Garcia Aquino, 43, is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday after he had been expected to make an initial appearance on that assault case in court in Lancaster Monday. Deputies said he wasn’t brought to court for medical reasons. Garcia Aquino was held in custody with a $100,000 bail, the LA County Sheriff’s Department said.
Charges and Potential Sentencing
The case filed Monday charged Garcia Aquino with a single count of first degree murder, with the special circumstance allegation that the murder happened during the commission of another violent felony, such as a robbery or rape. Garcia Aquino faces at least life without the possibility of parole on the murder charge along with six years in prison for the sex assault charge. LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who announced his office is seeking the death penalty again last month, said he would consider seeking the capital punishment for Garcia Aquino.
Conclusion
The investigation into the death of Oscar Omar Hernandez has led to the arrest and charging of his soccer coach, Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, with murder and an unrelated sex assault charge. The case is ongoing, and officials are urging anyone with information to come forward. The community is left to mourn the loss of a young life and to seek justice for the heinous crimes committed.
FAQs
- Q: Who is the suspect in the murder of Oscar Omar Hernandez?
A: The suspect is Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, the 13-year-old boy’s soccer coach. - Q: What charges has Garcia Aquino been filed with?
A: Garcia Aquino has been charged with first degree murder with special circumstances and an unrelated sex assault charge. - Q: What is the potential sentencing for Garcia Aquino?
A: Garcia Aquino faces at least life without the possibility of parole on the murder charge and six years in prison for the sex assault charge. - Q: Are officials looking for additional victims?
A: Yes, officials believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
