Cause of Death Revealed for Teen, Allegedly Killed by Soccer Coach
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The cause of death for the 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez has been disclosed nearly two months after the teenager was found dead. Oscar Omar Hernandez was reported missing on March 28, and his body was discovered in a ditch in Oxnard, California, on April 2. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division confirmed the tragic news. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Hernandez passed away due to acute alcohol intoxication. The Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and ABC 7 reported that his death was ruled as homicide.
According to reports, soccer coach Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, 43, has been charged with murder in connection to Hernandez’s death. Garcia-Aquino pleaded not guilty to the charge earlier this month. The teenager was allegedly last seen with Garcia-Aquino on March 28 before boarding a train to Palmdale, California, as per ABC 7. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman stated that Garcia-Aquino is accused of killing Hernandez on the same day. He was charged with the special circumstance of murder during the commission of lewd acts with a child in April.
In an unrelated case, Garcia-Aquino faces a felony charge of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense after allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale in February 2024. Additionally, he is accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in Sylmar, California, in 2022 as reported by L.A. Times. Hernandez’s sister, Alejandra, mentioned that her brother accompanied Garcia-Aquino to assist in making soccer jerseys on the day he went missing. When the family tried contacting Hernandez, the coach answered the phone, claiming his hands were full of paint.
The family expected Garcia-Aquino to drive Hernandez home the next morning. However, they later received a text from Hernandez’s phone stating that he was heading to a party. Another text followed, saying he was in North Hollywood and declined the offer to be picked up. Michael Carrillo, the family’s attorney, expressed their ongoing trauma and tragedy upon learning the details of Hernandez’s death. He stated, “It’s so many puzzle pieces that are coming together, but at the end of the day, [the Hernandez’s] son is gone forever.”
Garcia-Aquino entered a not guilty plea in court on June 18 and is scheduled to appear in court in August. He potentially faces a death penalty sentence or life imprisonment without parole following the charges brought against him. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office has been contacted by PEOPLE for a response. The Hernandez family continues to grapple with the heartbreaking loss of their son as the investigation unfolds.
The case of Hernandez’s tragic death at the hands of his soccer coach has shocked the community and raised concerns about child safety in sports environments. The legal proceedings against Garcia-Aquino highlight the importance of safeguarding young athletes and ensuring proper background checks and oversight in coaching roles. This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and accountability in youth sports programs to prevent similar tragedies in the future.