A father who staged the abduction of his infant son and fatally harmed the child has been sentenced to over three decades in prison. Jake Haro, aged 32, confessed to the murder during a previous court appearance and was handed his sentence today, more than two months after he and his wife Rebecca initially misled authorities.
The incident occurred in Yucaipa, California, in August, where Haro claimed that Rebecca was attacked while changing their baby’s diaper in their car outside a store. However, discrepancies in their story led to their arrest a week later, revealing that Haro was responsible for the baby’s death. Despite extensive investigations, the body of the infant, Emmanuel, has not been located.
Haro faced charges including murder, filing a false police report, and child endangerment, resulting in a lengthy prison term. Meanwhile, Rebecca Haro, 41, who pleaded not guilty, is being held on a bail of $1 million and is scheduled for a court appearance in January.
Prosecutors in Riverside County pushed for a 31-year to life sentence for Haro due to both the murder of Emmanuel and a previous incident in 2018 where he caused severe injuries to another child. Brandon Smith, the assistant district attorney, emphasized the gravity of Haro’s actions, stating that he had taken the lives of two innocent children.
The initial report by Rebecca of Emmanuel’s kidnapping from a store parking lot in Yucaipa triggered a widespread search. However, subsequent investigations revealed inconsistencies in her account, leading to suspicions by law enforcement. Rebecca’s claim of being attacked and waking up to find her son missing raised doubts, ultimately exposing the truth behind the tragic incident.