LAPD

Soccer coach questioned in 13 year old's death, arrested for 2024 sex assault

The family of Oscar Omar Hernandez said a soccer coach was the last person to see the 13-year-old while court records show the man was arrested by LAPD detectives

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Ventura officials confirmed Friday that the body found in a ditch in Oxnard earlier this week was that of Oscar Omar Hernandez. Investigative Reporter Eric Leonard reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025.

A soccer coach identified by the family of a missing 13-year-old boy as the last person who had contact with the teen was questioned about the disappearance and booked on an unrelated sexual assault charge, according to law enforcement sources and court records.

The medical examiner in Ventura County confirmed the body found in a ditch in Oxnard earlier this week was that of Oscar Omar Hernandez. Police had said a body that appears to match the description of the teen.

The man in custody, Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, 43, was arrested by LAPD detectives Wednesday morning on a warrant issued earlier that day in an unrelated sexual assault case that was investigated last year by the LA County Sheriff's Department.

"This individual has not been arrested or charged in connection with the Hernandez case," said LAPD Public Information Director Jennifer Forkish.

"Our investigation is ongoing," she said.

Family mourns 13-year-old identified as body found in Oxnard
The Ventura County Medical Examiner officially confirmed Friday that the body found on Wednesday in Oxnard belongs to 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez, whose family says he was last visiting his soccer coach. Macy Jenkins reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on April 4, 2025.

Garcia Aquino failed to make an initial court appearance at the Criminal Courts Building in downtown LA on Friday and was expected to appear Monday.

He was being held in LA County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint in the 2024 investigation, Garcia Aquino faces a single count of assault with intent to commit another felony, which prosecutors allege was the attempted rape, sodomy or oral copulation of a man.

Records show the alleged assault took place in February 2024 and was investigated by the LA County Sheriff's Department's Special Victims Bureau.

Several law enforcement sources said the LA County District Attorney's Office reviewed the case in 2024 but did not file criminal charges for unknown reasons.

NBC LA requested a case memo from the DA's office, usually supplied on request, that would detail the office's decision in the case, but a spokesperson declined to provide it.

The DA's Office said late Friday it could not comment directly on the case, as it's an ongoing investigation.

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