A Southern California soccer coach has been arrested in connection with the death of his 13-year-old player.
According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Mario Garcia-Aquino, 43, of Lancaster, has been named as the suspect in the suspected murder of Oscar Omar Hernandez.
Hochman believes Garcia-Aquino murdered Hernandez on March 28, days before his body was discovered at a beach in Oxnard.
The teen’s killing prompted police to speak with Garcia-Aquino, Hernandez’s soccer coach.
Following Hernandez’s death and Garcia-Aquino’s charges, Hochman stated that the death sentence is an option.
“The death penalty is eligible. He is eligible under a murder with special circumstances charge for either life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. We have recently instituted a new death penalty policy, in which we will we will be evaluating whether or not the death penalty is appropriate for this particular case,” the LA County DA said.
Timeline: Prior to Monday’s news, Garcia-Aquino was arrested on February 20 for a case of unrelated child sex abuse. Garcia-Aquino was a travel youth soccer coach for the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club in Sylmar, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
Authorities discovered Hernandez’s body on April 2, five days after Garcia-Aquino allegedly murdered the teen. Garcia-Aquino’s detention was reported on April 7.
What we don’t know: The District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are now concerned that Garcia-Aquino may have targeted additional potential victims. Anyone with knowledge of Hernandez’s death or Garcia-Aquino is requested to contact law enforcement.
Officials did not explain how Hernandez died.
The office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney did not specify how the body was discovered.
