A California father who pleaded guilty to killing his 7-month old son after he and his wife falsely reported the child as missing has been jailed for more than 30 years, a prosecutor said.
Why It Matters
The case has drawn national attention for its disturbing trajectory—from a fabricated kidnapping report to a murder conviction—and for the unresolved status of the remains of the baby boy, Emmanuel Haro.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, founded after the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting, is pushing for legislation, which it calls “Emmanuel’s Law,” aimed at closing legal gaps that may have contributed to the infant’s death.
What To Know
A judge in California’s Riverside County sentenced Jake Haro, 32, to 25 years to life for the murder of his son, the county District Attorney’s Office said.
The court also imposed consecutive sentences for prior child abuse and firearm offenses, of six years and eight months, respectively.
“The lies told in this case only deepened the tragedy of Emmanuel’s death,” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in a statement.
“While today’s sentence represents a measure of accountability for Jake Haro, our office will continue to seek justice as the case against his co-defendant moves forward,” Hestrin said, referring to Jake Haro’s wife, Rebecca Haro, 41, who pleaded not guilty.
In early August, Jake and Rebecca Haro told authorities that Emmanuel had been abducted following an attack on Rebecca in a parking lot. The report triggered a multiagency search and public alerts.
Investigators quickly uncovered inconsistencies in the couple’s account. Both parents were arrested on August 22 and charged in Emmanuel’s death.
Jake Haro pleaded guilty on October 16 to second-degree murder. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Haro also admitted to filing a false police report and assaulting a child under 8.
Prosecutors believe evidence shows that Emmanuel died due to multiple acts of abuse. His body has not been recovered.
What People Are Saying
Daniel Chapin, founder of the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, last month: “Justice for Emmanuel is incomplete until his remains are recovered….Our fight now centers on recovering Emmanuel and enacting ‘Emmanuel’s Law’ to protect other children from falling through the cracks of a broken system.”
What Happens Next
The next hearing in the case against Rebecca Haro is set for January 21.