Los Angeles Area Soccer Coach Charged in Murder of Teenage Boy

The body of Oscar ‘Omar’ Hernandez, 13, was found in Ventura County on April 2.

Boys soccer coach Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43, of Palmdale, Calif., may face the death penalty if convicted in the murder of a 13-year-old boy in March 2025. Los Angeles County District Attorney

A soccer coach charged in the murder of a 13-year-old boy in Southern California could face the death penalty, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on April 7.

The boy, Oscar “Omar” Hernandez, took a train to Lancaster on March 28 to stay with his coach, Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43. Officials said he was not heard from again.

Two days later, Oscar’s family reported him missing. According to Hochman, the boy’s body was found on April 2 by sheriff’s deputies off a road near Leo Carrillo State Beach in Ventura County, about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Garcia-Aquino was charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child. The special circumstance makes him eligible for the death penalty, according to Hochman.

He was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in the Lancaster Courthouse.

“These cases are tragic,” Hochman said during a press conference on Monday. “Our role is to bring justice to this family and to hold the person responsible for these brutal, heinous, unspeakable, unthinkable acts…accountable and prosecute and punish them to the full extent of the law.”

The district attorney, who implemented a new death penalty policy last month, said his office would assess whether to seek capital punishment for the murder charge or ask for a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

“We will be evaluating whether or not the death penalty is appropriate for this particular case,” Hochman said.

Garcia-Aquino was also charged with felony assault on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale on Feb. 22, 2024, Hochman said.

According to Sheriff Robert Luna, who joined Hochman at the press conference, Garcia-Aquino has no reported criminal history and was a youth travel soccer coach with the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club in the Sylmar area.

In a separate reported incident last year, the soccer coach befriended a Sylmar family who allowed their son to stay with him at his home in Palmdale, Luna said.

Shortly after that, the family filed a criminal report with the sheriff’s station in Palmdale, alleging sexual abuse of their child.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman speaks during a news conference in Los Angeles, California on March 10, 2025. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Investigators had not yet charged Garcia-Aquino in the case more than a year later when Hernandez was murdered, according to the district attorney.

“In order to develop the evidence, it doesn’t happen overnight,” Hochman said. “When we filed and got the arrest warrant, unfortunately, he had committed this as well.”

The defendant also faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison for the sexual assault charge.

County law enforcement officials pleaded with the public to contact them if they suspect Garcia-Aquino may have victimized them.

Luna said any possible victims should not be afraid to report any tips, even if they are in the country illegally.

During the investigation, detectives learned there was another unrelated child sexual abuse case being handled by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothills division involving their suspect.

“Based on the nature of offenses, we believe there may be additional victims,” Luna said. “Please come forward. I know it’s not easy.”

The sheriff also promised to protect the victims.

“If for any reason anyone fears coming forward because you may be here undocumented, we’re not going to ask about that,” he added.

“We will assist you. Any of us are going to wrap our arms around you and make sure that you get the appropriate services.”