Oscar Hernandez: Cause of death for 13-year-old allegedly killed by soccer coach revealed
Youth soccer coach pleads not guilty to teen's murder
Mario Garcia-Aquino has been charged with murdering 13-year-old Oscar Hernandez while trying to sexually assault him.
LOS ANGELES - The cause of death for 13-year-old Oscar "Omar" Hernandez, who was allegedly murdered by his youth soccer coach Mario Edgardo Garcia-Aquino, has been revealed.
What we know:
Hernandez died from acute ethanol intoxication, also known as alcohol poisoning, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said Thursday.
His manner of death was ruled a homicide.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Oscar Omar Hernandez death: California 13-year-old's soccer coach arrested after teen's body found in Oxnard
The backstory:
Hernandez -- who had traveled to Lancaster to see his soccer coach March 28 -- was reported missing two days later and found dead in Oxnard, Hochman said.
Hernandez's body was discovered April 2 by the side of a road in Oxnard, but authorities have not announced how the boy was killed.
The district attorney said in April that "certain investigative techniques" were used to find the teen's body and determine his alleged killer, adding that the information will be detailed in court at the appropriate time.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Boy found dead in Oxnard was with soccer coach before going missing, family says
In a statement, Hernandez's family said they were "devastated by the unimaginable loss" and "heartbroken that someone entrusted with his care could commit such a horrific act."
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters in April that Garcia-Aquino was a youth travel soccer coach with the Hurricane Valley Boys Soccer Club, working with different age divisions in the Sylmar area and had no reported criminal history.
What's next:
Garcia-Aquino has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering Hernandez.
He also faces charges of sexually assaulting two other boys and remains jailed without bail.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: SoCal youth soccer coach pleads not guilty to murder of 13-year-old boy
His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 18.
The Source: The information in this report is based on findings from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, which determined the cause and manner of death for Oscar "Omar" Hernandez. Further details are attributed to prosecutor Jana Hochman and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, as well as previous FOX 11 reports.