Father of missing 7-month-old baby pleads guilty to murder.
In a harrowing case that has drawn significant attention, Jake Haro, 32, a resident of Cabazon, California, has pleaded guilty to the murder of his 7-month-old son, Emmanuel Haro. The child was initially reported as kidnapped, a claim made by his mother, Rebecca Haro, 41, which subsequently led to the couple being charged with various crimes. The plea was entered during a court hearing on Thursday, according to a statement issued by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
Haro faces charges including one count of second-degree murder, child endangerment, and filing a false police report. Notably, the remains of baby Emmanuel have not yet been located, leaving many unanswered questions surrounding the investigation and the circumstances leading to the child’s demise.
Investigators believe Emmanuel passed away due to the effects of severe abuse sometime between August 5, when he was last seen, and August 14, shortly before his mother reported him missing. In her initial account, Rebecca Haro claimed to have been knocked unconscious in a store parking lot while changing her son’s diaper, during which time an assailant allegedly abducted the infant.
Initially regarded as a distressed parent, Rebecca Haro’s narrative soon raised suspicions among law enforcement due to multiple inconsistencies. As the couple ceased cooperating with authorities, both were arrested on August 22 under suspicion of first-degree murder. They were subsequently charged with murder with malice and filing a false police report, with bail set at million for each.
In a prior criminal matter, Jake Haro had pleaded guilty in 2023 to willful cruelty to a child stemming from a 2018 incident involving a daughter from a previous relationship, in which he was found responsible for her permanent disability. He is currently facing a potential sentence ranging from 25 years to life in prison, with a scheduled hearing for sentencing on November 3.
Rebecca Haro is also awaiting her preliminary hearing regarding charges of murder and filing a false police report on the same day, remaining in custody with a bail set at million. The couple’s two-year-old child was removed from their custody by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department during the investigation.
The tragic case continues to unfold, raising critical discussions about child safety and welfare, as the community grapples with the devastating implications of such allegations.
