A youth soccer coach in Southern California faces charges of murder following the discovery of a 13-year-old boy, Oscar Omar Hernandez, found deceased by a roadside in Ventura County, California. The accused, 43-year-old Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, is also charged with sexually assaulting two other teenagers.
Hernandez was reported missing on March 30, 2025, after traveling by train from Sun Valley, California, to meet Garcia-Aquino in Lancaster, California, on March 28. His family stated he was helping the coach with soccer jersey production. Hernandez’s body was located several days later near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard, California, roughly 70 miles from his residence. Authorities allege Garcia-Aquino committed murder during or following an attempt at lewd acts, which could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
In addition to the murder accusation, Garcia-Aquino is charged with alleged sexual offenses involving two other minors. One case 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 subsequent to forensic evidence and victim interviews.
Garcia-Aquino was a coach with the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club in Sylmar, California. Investigations are underway to determine if he held the appropriate licenses through Cal South, the California State Soccer Association. Authorities are also looking for additional potential victims and have released Garcia-Aquino’s photos to encourage them to come forward.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stressed that immigration status should not prevent victims from speaking out. “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.”
Originally from El Salvador, Garcia-Aquino is reportedly in the U.S. illegally. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued a detainer on him, requesting notification before any potential release. California’s sanctuary laws generally restrict cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, except in specific violent crime cases.
During a news conference, Oscar’s mother, Gladys Bautista, expressed her grief, 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 scheduled 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 are urging 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.
