Body of missing Oscar Hernandez,13, found in Southern California [Oxnard] - Soccer coach charged

[Jo in Calif]

When his family was going through a “turmoil” in 2024, the then-16-year-old decided to move in with Garcia Aquino in Sylmar then later in Palmdale with his dad’s consent despite his mom’s opposition.


“I guess she got some sort of weird vibe off of him,” John said.


One day, while John was spending time with Garcia Aquino at his home, the coach handed him a glass of orange juice, which made him “sleepy tired.”


After living with the coach and his son for more than a year, one night, John said he was awakened by unsettling feelings.


“He tried pulling down my shorts. I woke up and I punched him,” John recalled the event in February 2024. “Then he told me it was all a joke.”


John said when he went back to sleep, he felt the coach was trying to pull down his shorts again.


"I was freaking out. I didn't know what to do. I saw my shorts on backwards," the teen said.


The teen eventually called his mom and LA County Sheriff’s deputies, who conducted a test to confirm there were drugs in John’s system.


John showed us the hospital discharge paperwork, showing the emergency room doctor's diagnosis of sexual assault of an adolescent, positive urine screen for an unspecified drug and toxic encephalopathy meaning impaired brain function.


John said he was unaware of any further investigation by the Sheriff's Department.

Teen sexually assaulted by soccer coach speaks out

A teenage boy breaks his silence following an alleged 2024 sex assault by a soccer coach charged in another child's murder.

www.nbclosangeles.com

 

[Knox]

Looking back, John thought Garcia Aquino was trying to isolate him from other teenagers.

“He didn’t want me to play with other kids,” recalled John, saying he no longer trusts people.

Despite reporting Garcia Aquino in 2024, it took more than a year for John to know Garcia Aquino was finally charged.

“Knowing what happened, it feels like I got ignored. Like if I wasn’t a human being," John said. “They just left it open. Then they had to get to a teenage boy getting killed.”

Teen sexually assaulted by soccer coach speaks out

A teenage boy breaks his silence following an alleged 2024 sex assault by a soccer coach charged in another child's murder.

www.nbclosangeles.com

What a brave young man. It doesn't sound he or his parents were contacted at all after the inital filing?

 

[dulcinea]

When his family was going through a “turmoil” in 2024, the then-16-year-old decided to move in with Garcia Aquino in Sylmar then later in Palmdale with his dad’s consent despite his mom’s opposition.


“I guess she got some sort of weird vibe off of him,” John said.


One day, while John was spending time with Garcia Aquino at his home, the coach handed him a glass of orange juice, which made him “sleepy tired.”


After living with the coach and his son for more than a year, one night, John said he was awakened by unsettling feelings.


“He tried pulling down my shorts. I woke up and I punched him,” John recalled the event in February 2024. “Then he told me it was all a joke.”


John said when he went back to sleep, he felt the coach was trying to pull down his shorts again.


"I was freaking out. I didn't know what to do. I saw my shorts on backwards," the teen said.


The teen eventually called his mom and LA County Sheriff’s deputies, who conducted a test to confirm there were drugs in John’s system.


John showed us the hospital discharge paperwork, showing the emergency room doctor's diagnosis of sexual assault of an adolescent, positive urine screen for an unspecified drug and toxic encephalopathy meaning impaired brain function.


John said he was unaware of any further investigation by the Sheriff's Department.

Teen sexually assaulted by soccer coach speaks out

A teenage boy breaks his silence following an alleged 2024 sex assault by a soccer coach charged in another child's murder.

www.nbclosangeles.com

I applaud John and his mother. It's a damn shame more was not done to prevent the tragedy that Oscar suffered. After John came forward, that should have been the end of it. I don't know what the answer is, but we have to find some way to prevent these things when victims come forward. Knowing that John was given some sort of drug, I wonder if that's what ended Oscar's life.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Knowing what happened, it feels like I got ignored. Like if I wasn’t a human being," John said. “They just left it open. Then they had to get to a teenage boy getting killed.”

Heartwrenching. John has my upmost respect for reporting what happened and speaking out. If the results of the hospital exams didn't get GA immediately arrested, something is very wrong with our justice system.

 

[tlcya]

When his family was going through a “turmoil” in 2024, the then-16-year-old decided to move in with Garcia Aquino in Sylmar then later in Palmdale with his dad’s consent despite his mom’s opposition.
[snipped by @tlcya for focus]

After living with the coach and his son for more than a year, one night, John said he was awakened by unsettling feelings.
{snipped by @tlcya for focus]

Teen sexually assaulted by soccer coach speaks out

A teenage boy breaks his silence following an alleged 2024 sex assault by a soccer coach charged in another child's murder.

www.nbclosangeles.com

BBM wait, first I've heard about the accused having a son who lived with him? Did I miss it or is this new news?

 

[Deleted member 19575]

It does show that mr Garcia horned in on kids who were vulnerable and who needed a family figure.

 

[MenheraVA]

The family said they knew something was wrong when they tried to call Oscar and the acquaintance would answer, saying that the teen couldn’t come to the phone and then couldn’t remember when he dropped him back off at the train station to go home.

Teen found dead off road in Oxnard believed to be missing San Fernando Valley boy

A body matching the description of a missing teen was found in Oxnard on Tuesday, according to authorities in Ventura County.

www.nbclosangeles.com

Jesus.

 

[katydid23]

Aren't people who work with children subject to a full background check? Especially a youth soccer coach.

California youth soccer coach charged in death of 13-year-old boy

Oscar Omar Hernandez, 13, was reported missing after visiting his soccer coach. His body was found last week on the side of a road in Southern California.

www.nbcnews.com

That organisation claims to do background checks. But he was never charged or convicted of previous crimes. Apparently he was a suspect, but that is not enough to ruin a fingerprint search if one is not arrested/charged/convicted.

 

[katydid23]

I work with kids at Church. Just pinged our youth leader and asked the question. My California background check included a criminal record check. So you’re saying a coach working with kids does not?

But I don't think he would show up in a criminal record search yet.

He was a suspect in a previous incident, and was questioned and they saw him a prime suspect and should have arrested him right then----but he was never convicted of anything at the time and that's messed up

So his fingerprint check would probably not bring up any red flags. IMO

 

[katydid23]

BBM wait, first I've heard about the accused having a son who lived with him? Did I miss it or is this new news?

No, it wasn't his own son. It was a friend's son that was staying with him.

 

[swanniee11]

I'm still reading posts however this article talks about a 2022 case

Soccer coach charged with 2022 sexual assault after murder charge in death of teen boy

The soccer coach jailed on suspicion of murdering 13-year-old Oscar Omar Hernandez was charged Tuesday with an additional count for an alleged sexual attack on a teen in 2022. Mario Edgardo Garcia Aquino, 43, was set to make an initial appearance in court Tuesday afternoon in downtown Los...

www.nbclosangeles.com

Sorry if already posted

 

[Jo in Calif]

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A funeral will be held Saturday afternoon for a 13-year-old boy whose body was found by the side of a road in Oxnard.

The mass will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Angeles at 3 p.m. followed by a private burial.

Funeral for 13-year-old boy found dead in Oxnard to be held today

A funeral will be held Saturday afternoon for a 13-year-old boy whose body was found by the side of a road in Oxnard.

abc7.com

 

[mickey2942]

Interesting. The Prosecutors are trying to decide whether or not to charge the Perpetrator, with the death penalty. From the article above:

"The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of a lewd act with a child, with the District Attorney's Office expected to subsequently determine "whether or not the death penalty is appropriate for this particular case," Hochman said.".

I thought California abolished the death penalty? Oh, it based on the current Governor of California, Gavin Newsome who put a halt to it. But people can still be given the death penalty.

Capital punishment in California - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Chimera]

Anyone who murders a child .....
Well I do not believe they need to be free ever again, and should get the severest penalty allowed by law.

 

[Jo in Calif]

Family members grieving the teen's shocking death surrounded his casket during a procession inside Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hollywood.

A large crowd of relatives and friends gathered for the 13-year-old's funeral mass.

One of Oscar's classmates spoke to ABC7 about his friend.

"Devastated. Seeing a friend in a casket...still heartbreaking. We would always make fun memories together. We had a field trip going to a Dodger game. I sat next to him on the bus. We were making jokes as if nothing was wrong," said Andrew Barrios.

Funeral held for 13-year-old boy found dead in Oxnard

A funeral was held Saturday afternoon for a 13-year-old boy whose body was found by the side of a road in Oxnard.

abc7.com

 

[Jo in Calif]

So very sad for his family.

As they were carrying the casket out of the church, Oscar’s mother Gladys fainted on top of it. An ambulance was called and she is now recovering.


A church spokesperson said that she was overcome with emotion.


Hernandez’s family released a statement on Saturday saying:


“We are devastated by the unimaginable loss of our beloved son Oscar Omar Hernandez Bautista. His bright spirit and love for soccer brought joy to everyone who knew him. We are heartbroken that someone entrusted with his care could commit such a horrific act. We ask for privacy as we grieve. Thank you for your support and understanding during this unbearable time.”


A private burial will be held in the coming days.

Family gathers for funeral of Oscar Omar Hernandez

A funeral mass at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church welcomed a full house of those wishing to pay their respects to the family of Oscar Omar Hernandez, a 13-year-old who was found dead in Oxnard last week.

www.nbclosangeles.com

 

[iusedtofloat]

 

[mickey2942]

I have always wondered if people who came to the United States, without documentation, are actually running from trouble in their country of origin. I wonder if the perpetrator was wanted for the same crime in his country.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I really feel for Oscar's family. His poor parents. I hope people will help support them emotionally, financially, and logistically for a very long time, as long as they need.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

And at least it seems LE is now actively trying to keep the alleged abuser/murderer behind bars. What went so wrong previously? Sigh.