News Releases

UPDATE: Complaint amended with charges from 2022 incident

Teen’s body was found in Ventura County after he was reported missing

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced that a youth soccer coach has been charged with murdering 13-year-old Oscar “Omar” Hernandez, whose body was found by the side of the road in Ventura County last week.

“No parent should ever have to endure the unimaginable pain and sorrow of learning their child has been murdered,” District Attorney Hochman said. “Oscar simply boarded a train and little did he or his family know that he would never return. Sexual predators who target victims for their own gratification will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“On behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department, I want to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Oscar Omar Hernandez,” said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. “While we all hoped for a different outcome, the tireless work of multiple law enforcement agencies has ensured that this dangerous individual is off the streets and is no longer a threat to our children and our communities. While this may do little to ease the family’s pain, please know that we are fully committed to pursuing justice for their son.”

“There is no excuse for these type of crimes,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “We will continue to pursue justice and work tirelessly to ensure we bring closure to the victims and their families, while ensuring that such individuals face the full extent of the law.”

Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino (dob 10/24/81) was charged in case 25CJCF01825 with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child, making him eligible for the death penalty. He is expected to be arraigned today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

On March 28, the teen was reported missing by his family after he boarded a train to Lancaster to visit Garcia-Aquino and wasn’t heard from again. Garcia-Aquino is accused of killing Oscar and then dumping his body in Oxnard. 

The complaint was amended on April 8 to include one felony count each of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense and lewd act upon a child 14 or 15 years old. On Dec. 10, 2022, Garcia-Aquino allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager at his then-home in Sylmar.

Garcia-Aquino faces a possible maximum sentence of death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.

He also has been charged in case 25AVCF00432 with one felony count of assault with the intent to commit a sexual offense. Garcia-Aquino is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale on Feb. 22, 2024. If convicted as charged, he faces a possible maximum sentence of six years in state prison on that case.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Paul Thompson of the Major Crimes Division and Negin Mostadim of the Sex Crimes Division. It remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Additional victims or anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Juvenile Division, Abused Child Unit at (818) 374-5415 or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273. Information also may be provided anonymously by phone to the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Amended complaint:

https://da.lacounty.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/040825-Garcia-AquinoAmended.pdf

Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino

Credit: LAPD

###