Emmanuel Haro’s death: Dark secrets emerge about parents charged with murder
Jake and Rebecca Haro arrested in California for the disappearance and suspected murder of their 7-month-old son, Emmanuel.
California authorities have revealed new and disturbing details in the case of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, whose parents now face murder charges following his death earlier this month.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin announced that Jake and Rebecca Haro have been charged with killing their infant son. Investigators allege Emmanuel was subjected to ongoing abuse, which ultimately led to his death.
“The filing in this case reflects our belief that baby Emmanuel was abused, a victim of child abuse over time, and that eventually because of that abuse, he succumbed to those injuries,” Hestrin said.
A False Kidnapping Story Unravels
Rebecca Haro initially told police that Emmanuel was kidnapped on August 14 while she was changing his diaper in the parking lot of a sporting goods store in Yucaipa. She claimed she had been knocked unconscious during the alleged abduction.
But investigators soon uncovered inconsistencies in her account. Court filings suggest Emmanuel had not been seen since August 5, leading authorities to believe the child was killed days before the kidnapping report.
Hestrin confirmed that investigators have a strong idea of where the infant’s remains may be, though he declined to release specifics. Over the weekend, detectives were seen searching with Jake after both parents were taken into custody.
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Troubling Criminal History
This is not Jake Haro’s first encounter with child abuse allegations. In 2018, he and his then-wife were prosecuted after their 10-week-old daughter was found with devastating injuries — including brain hemorrhages, multiple rib fractures, a cervical spine injury, and seizures.
Jake claimed the injuries came from accidentally dropping the infant into a sink. Doctors, however, testified that such an explanation was impossible given the severity and scope of the child’s trauma. The girl survived but was left permanently disabled, now 7 years old, bedridden, and suffering from cerebral palsy.
Jake pleaded guilty in that case to willful child cruelty. Prosecutors pushed for prison time, but in 2023 a judge handed down a suspended six-year sentence and placed him on probation. Less than a year later, Jake allegedly violated his probation when he was charged with firearm possession.
“Mr. Haro should have been in prison at the time that this crime happened,” Hestrin said. “If that judge had done his job, Emmanuel would be alive today. That’s a shame and an outrage.”
Current Charges and Next Steps
Jake and Rebecca Haro were formally charged with murder this week and are each being held on $1 million bail. Their arraignment is scheduled for September 4. Meanwhile, their two-year-old child has been removed from the home by authorities.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus described Jake as an “experienced child abuser” during the press briefing, underscoring the tragic history of violence now linked to him.
Neither parent’s attorney has commented publicly on the charges. The investigation into Emmanuel’s death is ongoing as authorities continue searching for the infant’s remains.