Soccer Coach Charged with Murder, Seeks More Victims

Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, a 43-year-old youth soccer coach, has been charged with the murder of 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez, whose body was found in Oxnard, California. The murder charge includes a special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child, potentially making Garcia-Aquino eligible for the death penalty. Previously, Garcia-Aquino was also charged with an unrelated felony count of assault with intent to commit a lewd act involving a 16-year-old boy in February 2024. Reports indicate that Garcia-Aquino is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador. Authorities are seeking additional victims, urging anyone with information to come forward without fear of immigration status checks. Garcia-Aquino is due for arraignment, facing possible life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty if convicted.