In yet another tragic reminder of the risks posed by illegal immigrants living unchecked in the U.S., Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, an undocumented youth soccer coach, faces murder charges after the unfathomable death of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez.
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Hernandez was reported missing on March 30 after failing to return home from Lancaster. His body was found in a ditch in Oxnard, Ventura County.
Authorities confirmed that Garcia Aquino is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador.
Disturbingly, the murder charges include a special circumstance allegation of lewd acts with a child.
This allegation renders Garcia Aquino eligible for the death penalty.
L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who emphasized justice for Oscar’s family, has indicated his office’s willingness to pursue the death penalty where warranted.
Hernandez was last seen with Garcia Aquino on March 28, five days before his remains were discovered in Oxnard, California.
“A soccer coach who is suspected of killing 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez has been charged with murder, the Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a Monday, April 7, press conference,” People reports.
The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the LAPD and FBI.
Garcia Aquino also faces unrelated assault charges from February 2024 involving a 16-year-old, proving a concerning pattern of behavior that demands scrutiny.
Oscar met Garcia Aquino through a soccer program and helped make jerseys during their last encounter.
Attempts to contact Oscar went unanswered, raising red flags for the family.
An unauthentic text from his phone further deepened their concerns.
Authorities encourage potential victims of Garcia Aquino to come forward, insisting they can remain anonymous.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stressed that undocumented status should not prevent victims from seeking justice.
Youth soccer coach charged with murder after missing 13-year-old boy found dead https://t.co/9XPsPJUlPL pic.twitter.com/aVeoq78nGe
— The Independent (@Independent) April 8, 2025
This tragedy reminds us of our duty to protect innocent lives from predators abusing their positions of trust.
“There’s always a fear that there’s more victims, and we want to make sure we account for everybody that’s out there,” Luna said.
Oscar’s family, who held a tribute at the site where his body was found, deserves our collective support and solidarity.
