When the courtroom quieted on Thursday, all eyes were on Jake Haro. He was trembling, tears brimming, as he stood in Riverside County Superior Court and admitted to ending the life of his 7-month-old son. The small boy, Emmanuel, has been missing since August — and to this day, his body still hasn’t been found.
Haro’s guilty plea came during what was supposed to be a felony settlement meeting. But instead of negotiating, he looked the judge in the eyes and confessed. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, assault on a child under eight causing great bodily injury resulting in death, and filing a false police report. The startling thing: this wasn’t a negotiated deal with prosecutors — Haro pleaded directly to the court. That means the judge will decide his fate. With those charges, he now faces the possibility of 25 years to life behind bars. His sentencing is set for November 3.
Meanwhile, his wife and Emmanuel’s mother, Rebecca Haro, continues to protest her innocence. She too faces charges of murder and filing a false police report, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for that same November date. On that day, the court will decide if there’s enough evidence for her case to proceed to full trial.
The story began on August 14, when Rebecca reported the baby missing from a parking lot in Yucaipa, claiming she had been attacked while changing Emmanuel’s diaper and knocked unconscious — and that when she came to, her son was gone. That narrative spurred a massive search involving K-9 teams and multiple agencies. But investigators grew suspicious. Her account had inconsistencies. She and Jake stopped cooperating. The case quickly shifted from a presumed kidnapping to a homicide investigation.
By August 22, authorities had arrested both Haros at their home in Cabazon. Detectives later revealed disturbing findings: Emmanuel had likely been subjected to abuse over time, suffering severe injury before his death. His body has yet to be located — despite ongoing searches and public attention. Prosecutors believe he died sometime between August 5 and August 14.
This tragic case also reopened scrutiny on Jake Haro’s past. In 2018, he was implicated in the abuse of an infant daughter from a previous relationship. That child is now believed to have permanent brain damage and cerebral palsy. In 2023, Haro pleaded guilty to willful child cruelty—but avoided prison, receiving work release and probation instead. Many now point to that as a missed opportunity to protect Emmanuel.
As the community watches, November 3 looms as a pivotal day: sentencing for Jake, the decision on Rebecca’s case, and perhaps, a step closer to finding Emmanuel’s remains and peace for a life cut tragically short.
