A youth soccer coach in Southern California is facing charges for the murder of a 13-year-old boy, Oscar Omar Hernandez, whose body was found by a roadside in Ventura County, California. The coach, 43-year-old Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, is also charged with the sexual assault of two other teenagers.
Hernandez was reported missing on March 30 after taking a train from his home in Sun Valley, California, to meet Garcia-Aquino in Lancaster, California, on March 28. According to the boy’s family, he was helping the coach make soccer jerseys. Hernandez’s body was discovered several days later near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard, about 70 miles from his residence. Authorities allege that Garcia-Aquino killed the boy during or after an attempted lewd act, making him eligible for the death penalty or life without parole.
Along with the murder charge, Garcia-Aquino faces charges for alleged sexual offenses involving two other minors. One incident involves a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale, California, in February 2024, and another involves a teenager aged 14 or 15 in Sylmar, California, in December 2022. These charges were filed following forensic evidence and victim interviews.
Garcia-Aquino was a coach for the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club in Sylmar, California. Authorities are investigating his licensing status with Cal South, the California State Soccer Association. They are also searching for additional potential victims and have released photos of Garcia-Aquino to encourage others to come forward.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stressed that immigration status should not prevent potential victims from reporting. “No matter what your documentation status is, we have a young man that was killed, murdered,” Luna said. “That matters, and it should matter to everyone else out there.”
Garcia-Aquino, originally from El Salvador, is reportedly in the United States illegally. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on him, requesting notification before any potential release. However, California’s sanctuary laws typically limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, except for certain violent crimes.
Oscar’s mother, Gladys Bautista, expressed her sorrow during a news conference, stating, “He didn’t need to be treated like an animal. That was my son.” The family, who emigrated from Honduras, has questioned whether their immigration status made them more vulnerable.
Garcia-Aquino’s arraignment is set for April 30. He is currently being held without bail. The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, representing Garcia-Aquino, has stated it will review the evidence and defend against the charges.
Authorities urge anyone with information about Garcia-Aquino or potential additional victims to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Juvenile Division at (818) 374-5415 or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.