The father of missing Emmanuel Haro has admitted to killing the 7-month-old baby and dumping his body in a trash can, according to new reports.
The confession came after investigators used an undercover inmate to draw out information while he was in custody.
Authorities say the case is being prosecuted as a murder following an investigation that began with a false kidnapping report.
Highlights
- Emmanuel Haro's father confessed to killing the 7-month-old baby and dumping his body in a trash can, per jailhouse informant reports.
- Investigators believe Emmanuel died after prolonged abuse in the family home and had been dead up to nine days before the kidnapping report.
- Jake Haro previously pleaded guilty to child cruelty in 2023; the baby’s injuries showed severe trauma inconsistent with explanations.
The father of the missing baby reportedly admitted to killing and dumping his son’s body
Image credits: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
Rebecca Haro, 41, and Jake Haro, 32, were arrested on August 22, a week after their son went missing in Cabazon, California.
NewsNation reporter Brian Entin, citing law enforcement sources, reported that Jake Haro told the jailhouse informant he killed Emmanuel and dumped his body in a trash can.
Police have not yet confirmed whether the remains have been found, but officials said they believe they know where to continue searching.
They also tried a similar undercover inmate operation, known as a “snitch jacket,” on Rebecca Haro, but she stuck by her story, NewsNation reported.
Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin told reporters Wednesday that investigators are confident Emmanuel died after a prolonged period of abuse in the family’s Riverside County home.
“We believe baby Emmanuel was subject to abuse over time, and because of that abuse, he succumbed to his injuries,” Hestrin said.
Image credits: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
On August 14, Rebecca Haro called the police and claimed her baby had been kidnapped.
She told deputies that she was struck in the head and knocked unconscious while changing her son’s diaper in the parking lot of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Yucaipa.
While the police immediately launched a search, sheriff’s deputies cited “inconsistencies” in the parents’ stories and arrested them at their home in Cabazon on suspicion of murder.
Investigators had served several search warrants at their house, used a K-9 police dog in their search, and also obtained surveillance footage. A video posted by the sheriff’s department shows the couple in normal clothes with handcuffs behind their backs, being escorted by armed deputies.
Officials now believe Emmanuel had already been dead for up to nine days before the reported abduction. The last confirmed sighting of the baby was on August 5.
The parents first reported that the baby had been kidnapped
Image credits: Allen J. Schaben/Getty Images
After his arrest, Jake Haro claimed he accidentally suffocated Emmanuel by rolling over on him in his sleep and later buried the child near a freeway.
Investigators were later seen searching the fields in Moreno Valley, with Jake Haro assisting officers in an orange prison uniform.
Jake Haro previously served a prison sentence for child cruelty in 2018 and is currently on probation.
In 2018, Haro and his then-wife were prosecuted after their 10-week-old daughter was hospitalized in a “condition [that] could have been fatal if medical attention was not sought,” according to the doctors then, and reported by People.
Image credits: Allen J. Schaben/Getty Images
“The combination of the above findings in a pre-mobile infant, in the absence of a plausible history of significant trauma to explain the injuries, is indicative of abuse [sic] head trauma, child physical abuse and nutritional neglect,” the officer had then written, quoting a doctor.
Jake had then claimed that the injuries were caused after he dropped the child in the sink while washing her.
But doctors noted that the infant had suffered a brain hemorrhage, multiple rib fractures, a cervical spine injury, retinal hemorrhages, and had had at least two seizures.
“The history of a short fall onto the kitchen sink does not explain her extensive and severe head trauma or her multiple bilateral rib fractures,” the arrest warrant read.
Haro eventually pleaded guilty in 2023 to child cruelty charges.
Image credits: Allen J. Schaben/Getty Images
Despite prosecutors pushing for prison, a judge suspended his six-year sentence and placed him on probation. The girl, now 7 years old, is bedridden and suffers from cerebral palsy.
Jake allegedly violated his probation after being charged with owning a firearm less than a year later.
“Mr. Haro should have been in prison at the time that this crime happened, and if that judge had done his job as he should have done, Emmanuel would be alive today,” Hestin said in court on Tuesday.
“And that's a shame and it’s an outrage. And I hate to say that, but when our criminal justice system breaks down, I’m going to just call it like it is and tell you it broke down. It’s not how it’s supposed to work,” he added.
The Haros have two other children, a 2-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old stepson. Authorities confirmed the younger child has been removed from the home and placed under the care of Riverside Child Protective Services.
Jake Haro had pleaded guilty to child cruelty charges in 2023
Both Jake and Rebecca Haro are being held on $1 million bail. Their arraignment, originally scheduled for this week, has been postponed until September 4.
While prosecutors are pressing murder charges, Emmanuel’s body has not been recovered yet. Authorities say they have “a strong indication” of where the remains may be, but no final discovery has been confirmed.
Investigators also revealed they had responded to a report of suspected child abuse near the sporting goods store on the same day Emmanuel was reported missing.
“The investigation is related to the Haros and no further details are available,” police said in a statement.