A soccer coach was accused of murder after a 13 -year -old in his team was reported by his family and then found dead, authorities announced Monday.
Oscar Omar Hernández, from the San Fernando Valley, was reported by his family missing on March 30 after “he could not return home to visit an acquaintance in Lancaster,” Los Angeles police said last week.
Oscar Omar Hernández is seen in a photo in a shirt used by a family member during a press conference in Los Angeles, on April 7, 2025.
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The teenager had gone to visit his football coach, Mario Edgardo García-Aquino, 43, two days before, according to the Los Angeles County District, Nathan Hochman.
Oscar was found dead on Wednesday in the city of Oxnard, west of Los Angeles, next to a road near Leo Carrillo State Beach, said Hochman.
García-Aquino was accused of murder with special circumstances on Monday, said Hochman.
The suspect has also been accused of a serious assault crime with the intention of committing a lascivious act against a 16 -year -old, Hochman said. García-Aquino was arrested Wednesday by that position, which arose from an alleged incident in Palmdale on February 22, 2024, authorities said.
“These cases are tragic, and the Hernández family, you have our deepest sympathy for a loss that words cannot even begin to describe,” Hochman said at a press conference on Monday. “However, our role is to bring justice to this family and hold the person responsible for these brutal, atrocious, indescribable and unthinkable acts, hold them responsible and punish them and punish them throughout the law.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff shows a bulletin with photos by Mario Edgardo García-Aquino during a press conference, April 7, 2025.
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Hochman said he has no detail about how Oscar was killed at this time.
García-Aquino is scheduled to appear before the court on Tuesday, said Hochman.
If he is convicted, the suspect faces a sentence of at least life without the possibility of probation for the position of murder or the death penalty, said Hochman. He also faces six years in prison if he is convicted of the assault, said Hochman.
The authorities ask any alleged victim of the suspect or any person with information that arises.
Oscar Oscar Hernández’s family is seen during an informative press session in Los Angeles, on April 7, 2025.
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“There is always fear that there are more victims, and we want to make sure we take into account all those who are out there,” said the Sheriff of the Los Angeles County, Robert Luna, in the informative session.
García-Aquina was a youth travel soccer coach with a male soccer club in the Sylmar area, according to Luna. He had not reported criminal records, said the Sheriff.
“If for some reason someone fears that he appears, even when he was young or family, because he can be undocumented here, we are not going to ask about that,” Luna said. “Please. You must present. We will help you, be it our department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County District Prosecutor’s Office, any of us are going to wrap our arms and make sure you get the appropriate services. We guide you in the right way and we also protect it.”
Families and friends have a vigil for Oscar Omar Hernández in Los Angeles, on April 3, 2025.
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Oscar’s family members attended the press conference, but did not make a public comment.
Oscar’s family and friends paid tribute to the adolescent on Thursday at the site where the body was found next to an Oxnard road.
“He didn’t need to be treated as an animal. That was my son,” his mother, Gladys Bautista, shouted in Spanish, Los Angeles Station of ABC News’ reported.
