Father pleads guilty to murder of missing 7-month-old son in Southern
California
[October 18, 2025]
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — The father of a 7-month-old boy missing
in Southern California pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of his son
after a monthslong investigation that has failed to locate the child's
remains.
Jake Haro on Thursday also pleaded guilty to assault on a child under 8
that results in death, paralysis or a comatose state, and a misdemeanor
count of filing a false report. |
Jake Haro, the father of missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, speaks with
his attorney's Allison Lowe and Paulette Garthwaite as he pleads guilty
Thursday morning, Oct 16, 2025, to all charges, including second-degree
murder, at the Riverside Hall of Justice. (Will Lester/The Orange County
Register via AP, Pool) |
|
Haro, 32, and his wife Rebecca Haro, 41, attracted national
attention this summer after reporting their son Emmanuel Haro
had been kidnapped outside a store in San Bernardino County on
Aug. 14.
Rebecca Haro told authorities that she was attacked outside a
store in the community of Yucaipa while changing her son’s
diaper and was left unconscious. Authorities said Haro told them
that when she awoke, her son was gone.
Rebecca Haro was later confronted by authorities about
inconsistencies in her account and refused to continue to
cooperate, the sheriff’s department said.
A week after reporting their son missing, authorities arrested
both parents as part of a murder investigation.
The couple was charged with the murder of Emmanuel Haro and
making a false report. They’ve each been held on $1 million
bail.
“Based on the evidence, investigators determined a kidnapping in
Yucaipa did not occur,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s
Department said after their Aug. 22 arrest. “The search to
recover his remains is ongoing.”
Prosecutors have said they believe the boy died from abuse.
In 2023, Jake Haro pleaded guilty in open court to abusing
another one of his children in 2018. The girl suffered rib and
skull fractures, a brain hemorrhage and other injuries.
Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said the
prosecution asked the judge to sentence Haro to prison at that
time, but instead he was allowed to serve 180 days of work
release, plus probation.
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