When the news first broke in Los Angeles during the spring of 2025, people couldn't stop talking about it. It wasn't just another headline. It was the kind of story that makes every parent check the locks twice and second-guess the people they trust with their kids. Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, a man who spent his days coaching kids on the soccer field, was suddenly the face of a nightmare.
The name Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino became synonymous with a tragedy that unfolded across Southern California, stretching from the suburban streets of Sun Valley to the quiet, wind-swept roads of Ventura County. It’s a heavy topic. Honestly, it’s one of those cases that reveals massive gaps in how we protect kids in youth sports.
The Disappearance of Oscar Omar Hernandez
It all started on March 28, 2025. A 13-year-old boy named Oscar Omar Hernandez—a kid known for his talent on the soccer pitch—left his home in Sun Valley. He told his family he was heading to Lancaster. Why? Because his coach, Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, supposedly needed help making soccer jerseys.
The family actually helped him get on the train. They trusted the coach. He was a figure of authority. But when Oscar didn't come home the next morning, the panic set in. The family tried calling. No answer. Then came a weird text from Oscar's phone saying he was at a party in North Hollywood.
His sister, Alejandra, knew something was wrong. She checked with his friends. There was no party. Nobody had seen him.
By Sunday, the LAPD was involved. Two days later, the Robbery-Homicide Division took the lead. They weren't just looking for a runaway. They were looking for a crime scene.
The Discovery in Oxnard
On April 2, the search ended in the worst way possible. Investigators, working with the FBI, found a body in a small woodland area near McGrath State Beach in Oxnard. It was Oscar.
The location was remote. It was just off the side of a road near Leo Carrillo State Beach.
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Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino was arrested shortly after. The charges were immediate and severe: first-degree murder with special circumstances.
Who is Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino?
Before this, Garcia Aquino was just a 43-year-old guy involved in the local soccer scene. He worked with the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club in the Sylmar area. He coached various age groups. To the parents, he seemed like a dedicated mentor.
He was born on October 24, 1981. Some reports later surfaced, including from sources cited by Fox News, alleging that he was in the U.S. illegally from El Salvador. This detail added another layer of complexity to the public outcry, though the focus remained squarely on the brutal nature of the crime.
Sheriff Robert Luna noted during press conferences that Garcia Aquino had "no reported criminal history" at the time of the hiring. That’s the part that really stings.
How does someone like this stay under the radar?
It turns out, there were older allegations that hadn't resulted in charges yet. Once the murder investigation started, the floodgates opened. Suddenly, a 2022 incident in Sylmar and a 2024 incident in Palmdale came to light.
A Pattern of Behavior
The legal filings against Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino eventually painted a picture of a serial predator.
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- December 2022: An alleged sexual assault of a 14 or 15-year-old at his home in Sylmar.
- February 2024: An alleged assault involving a 16-year-old boy in Palmdale.
- March 2025: The murder of Oscar Hernandez.
In the Palmdale case, the coach had reportedly "befriended" a family. They trusted him so much they let their son stay the night at his house. That’s when the abuse allegedly happened.
The Hernandez family has since spoken out about a chilling theory. They believe Garcia Aquino specifically targeted families who might be undocumented. He likely thought they’d be too afraid of the police to report him.
The Legal Battle and Charges
When District Attorney Nathan Hochman stood at the podium in April 2025, the weight of the case was obvious. Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino was charged in case 25CJCF01825.
The "special circumstance" part is what makes this a potential death penalty case. It alleges the murder happened during the commission of lewd acts with a child. Under California law, that’s as serious as it gets.
He pleaded not guilty.
The arraignment was a mess of delays. At one point, he couldn't even make it to court because of "undisclosed medical reasons." He’s currently being held without bail. If he’s convicted on the murder charge alone, he’s looking at life without the possibility of parole.
Why This Case Matters for Youth Sports
This isn't just a "true crime" story. It’s a systemic failure. The family of Oscar Hernandez has actually sued the city of Los Angeles. They’re arguing that the background checks were a joke.
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Basically, the lawsuit claims the city failed to investigate Garcia Aquino properly before letting him coach at public parks.
It raises a big question: is a standard background check enough?
If someone hasn't been caught yet, they have a "clean" record. We need better ways to vet people who work with kids. We need more than just a name-check in a database.
What Parents Can Do
If you’ve got kids in sports, you can’t just assume the league has it handled. You've gotta be proactive.
- Ask for the policy: Don't just ask if they do background checks. Ask what kind. Are they checking local, state, and federal records?
- The "Two-Deep" Rule: Never allow a situation where a coach is alone with a single child. There should always be two adults present. Always.
- Trust the gut: If a coach is inviting kids over to their house for "extra help" or "making jerseys," that’s a massive red flag.
- Report everything: If you see something weird, say something. The police in this case, including Sheriff Luna, have been very clear: they don't care about immigration status. They just want to catch predators.
The story of Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino is a dark one, but it’s a necessary reminder. We have to look out for each other.
Keep an eye on the court dates. The trial is expected to bring more details to light as the Major Crimes Division and Sex Crimes Division move forward. It’s a long road to justice, but the community isn't letting this one go.