Soccer coach charged with murder in connection to 13-year-old boy found dead in Oxnard

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A man identified as the teen’s soccer coach was charged with murder in connection to the death of a 13-year-old boy in Oxnard.

Mario Garcia Aquino, 43, was arrested Wednesday in an unrelated sexual assault case that was investigated last year by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Eyewitness News learned.

He is facing six years in prison for assault with intent to commit lewd acts with a 16-year-old in that case, the Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced during a press conference Monday.

According to reports, the coach was questioned about the disappearance of Oscar Omar Hernandez at the time of his arrest.

Garcia Aquino is facing at least life without the possibility of parole in connection to the teen’s death, Hochman announced.

He is set to be arraigned on Tuesday.

Authorities are asking anyone with information or any other possible victims to come forward.

Garcia Aquino killed 13-year-old Oscar on March 28 in Lancaster, Hochman said. That day, Oscar boarded a Metrolink train to help the soccer coach at a complex.

He was reported missing by his family two days later. Investigators found the boy’s body in Ventura County last Wednesday.

When he didn’t return home that night, the family worried and started looking for him. They reported him missing that day.

His body was found on the side of the road in Oxnard. The LAPD was assisted by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI during the investigation.

Police have not revealed what evidence led them to find his body more than 60 miles away in the remote area.

The teen’s mother is devastated over her son’s death. Gladys Bautista described her son as a happy kid who loved soccer and was excited that he was about to receive his visa so he could return to visit relatives in Honduras.

Last Thursday, family and friends held a vigil where the teen’s body was found.

He didn’t need to be treated like an animal. That was my son,” Bautista cried out in Spanish.

One of his friends there described him as the “nicest person.”

“He was just trying to have his own money and accomplish his goals in life,” another friend said.

That evening, friends and relatives paid tribute to the teen with a memorial outside his home in North Hollywood.

“He was always kindhearted. He had such a great personality, he was funny,” 12-year-old Melanie Samayoa said. “He would always bring out a smile to us, and like one of my friend’s said he’s such a great dancer, too.”

Detectives are still investigating. A cause of death is unknown.