The family of a 13-year-old boy from the San Fernando Valley filed a legal claim against the city and county of Los Angeles, saying they didn't do enough to protect the boy.
The boy's body was found on the side of a road in Oxnard in April after he had been reported missing.
The alleged killer, 43-year-old Mario Garcia Aquino, who was the boy's soccer coach, has been charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission or attempted commission of lewd acts with a child.
Garcia Aquino killed Oscar Omar Hernandez on March 28 in Lancaster and dumped his body in Ventura County, prosecutors allege.
The boy's family held a press conference on Monday to discuss the claim, which states Oscar was "subjected to grooming and sexual abuse" at the hands of Garcia Aquino because "the city and county of Los Angeles failed to do a thorough background check" on the coach.
"I want justice for my little brother," said the boy's brother, Daniel Hernandez Bautista, who held back tears as he spoke to the press.
Family files legal claim against city and county of LA over 13-year-old boy's murder
The boy's mother also spoke out, sending a message to her son's alleged killer.
"I ask for justice," she said. "May the full weight of the law fall on this monster who did so much harm to an innocent child who was unable to defend himself."
They argue that even though Garcia-Aquino was not an employee of the city or county, both entities were responsible for properly vetting him before allowing him to coach on their properties.
"When a coach has to use the fields, he has to fill out certain paperwork, permits, insurance and things like that," said Michael Carrillo, one of the family's attorneys. "The city and county did not do enough in their oversight and supervision."
In May, Eyewitness News learned a backlog of cases at the district attorney's office may have led to Garcia Aquino being free rather than facing charges.
The family is also pointing the finger at the DA's office, saying it was slow to investigate the other complaints against Garcia-Aquino, including a sex abuse claim in 2022 and another criminal allegation made against him in 2024.
"That case was not filed until 11 months later, when Oscar Omar had already gone missing," said Carrillo. "If that backlog would have been taken care of, this family might not be here suffering this immense trauma and tragedy."
The attorneys wouldn't release how much they are seeking in damages from the city and county, but Oscar's mother says she hopes the parents of any other kids who may have been molested by Garcia-Aquino will come forward as well.
"This monster was around innocent children; he was surrounded by so many children. Who knows what damage he did to all the kids he was around?" she said.