The body of a 13-yeaer-old California boy was found Wednesday at a state beach, and his family is pushing for answers.
Law enforcement authorities from the Los Angeles Police Department and FBI were called to McGrath State Beach in Oxnard on Wednesday, where the lifeless body of a young boy was discovered. The family later confirmed the victim’s identity as Oscar Omar Hernandez.
LAPD reports that Oscar was reported missing over the weekend after last being seen near Lancaster.
According to updates provided by his family to FOX 11 on Thursday, Oscar was supposed to be in the company of a man believed to be his soccer coach on the day he went missing. Oscar was known for playing soccer regularly at Whitsett Park in North Hollywood.
Jose, Oscar’s older brother, reached out to him on Saturday, only to have the call answered by the coach who claimed Oscar was unable to speak on the phone. The call was abruptly cut off thereafter.
Oscar’s father, Daniel Hernandez, later reached the coach, who claimed he dropped Oscar off “near” their home. The family then contacted police.
CBS News reports that the teen met up with the coach to help make soccer jerseys.
“His soccer coach made soccer jerseys,” his sister, Alejandra said. “He had taken other soccer teammates to help him, and that’s why my brother went.”
“Then at 9 p.m. my brother called Oscar, but the coach answered. He said Oscar couldn’t answer because his hands were full of paint.”
The family reportedly expected the coach to drive Oscar back to their Sun Valley home Saturday morning. Alejandra said that never happened, and the coach said he dropped Oscar off that afternoon because the teen overslept.
The family later received a text, reportedly from the teen’s phone, claiming he was in North Hollywood and refused a ride from Whitsett Park, according to his sister. Relatives said those were the last messages they received from the phone. They searched for him throughout Saturday night but couldn’t find him.
LAPD subsequently brought in the FBI to help with the investigation.
Two days after he disappeared, LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division began searching a wooded area along North Harbor Boulevard near McGrath State Beach. With help from the FBI, they found a body that matched Oscar’s description.
Police haven’t said how the boy died or how he ended up in Oxnard. Officials told FOX 11 they consider the soccer coach a person of interest.
“We’ve developed a lot of information that is not really publically releasable at this time,” LAPD Chief of Detectives Alan said. “We’re going to make sure that we conduct a thorough investigation, that we determine all the facts, and if we do identify somebody, we’re going to bring them to justice.”
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Handout]
