Ventura County, CA – A local youth soccer coach is facing a murder charge tied to the death of a 13-year-old boy in Ventura County as well as additional charges in separate sexual abuse cases involving minors, according to officials. The body of the young victim was discovered roadside last week, prompting a deeper investigation into the suspect’s interactions with children.
Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43, originally from El Salvador, has been formally accused of the murder of the teenager, which prosecutors allege occurred during or following a sexual assault. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that Garcia-Aquino faces a capital murder charge with special circumstances that could potentially lead to the death penalty.
Authorities have yet to release the cause of the boy’s death. Efforts are underway to determine whether Garcia-Aquino has secured legal representation.
According to Hochman, the missing teen, identified as Oscar “Omar” Hernandez, was last seen boarding a train to meet Garcia-Aquino at his residence in Lancaster. The coach is accused of murdering Hernandez and subsequently abandoning his body in Oxnard, located about 60 miles from the initial location.
Garcia-Aquino, who worked with various age groups at the Hurricane Valley Boys’ Soccer Club in Sylmar, had no previously reported criminal record, shared Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna. Luna emphasized the ongoing search for other potential victims linked to the suspected child sexual abuse cases.
On Tuesday, authorities supplemented the initial complaint against Garcia-Aquino, including charges of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense and committing lewd acts upon a child between the ages of 14 and 15. The allegations detail an assault occurring last December in Sylmar, an incident investigated by local law enforcement.
Additionally, Garcia-Aquino is implicated in the sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy in February 2024 in Palmdale, further complicating the case against him.
“These cases are heartbreakingly tragic,” Hochman expressed during a press briefing, extending deep sympathies to the Hernandez family amidst their profound loss.
Supporting the local police in this investigation are federal agents, highlighting the severity and broader implications of the case. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli criticized the events as preventable and indicative of broader issues with national border policies, emphasizing aggressive federal action against crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
Sheriff Luna also pointed out a 2024 case involving Garcia-Aquino and a Sylmar family, whose son was allegedly abused while living temporarily with the coach in Palmdale. The family’s accusations led to an investigation by the LASD Special Victims Bureau.
Joining forces with the Antelope Valley courthouse detectives, the Special Victims Bureau discovered another unrelated child abuse case managed by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill division. Both investigations together suggest there may be additional unidentified victims, Luna concluded, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance and community cooperation in uncovering the full scope of these alleged criminal activities.