SoCal Dad Who Killed His Baby And Faked A Kidnapping Cover-Up Sentenced

CABAZON, CA — A convicted Cabazon child abuser who admitted to killing his 7-month-old son after he conspired with his wife to cover up the crime by filing a false kidnapping report was sentenced Monday to 25 years to life in prison, according to prosecutors.

Jake Mitchell Haro, 32, pleaded guilty on Oct. 16 to second-degree murder, child assault and filing a false police report. His spouse, 41-year-old Rebecca Rene Haro, did not join in the plea, which was entered directly into Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk's court, without negotiations between the defense and prosecution.

Jake Haro was also sentenced to 180 days for filing a false police report, was further ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and has been credited with 551 days for time served.

His wife, Rebecca Renee Haro, maintains her not guilty plea. Her next hearing is a
felony settlement conference scheduled for Jan. 21, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

Jake Haro was being held without bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. His spouse is being held on $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

The body of their child, Emmanuel, has not been located.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin released a statement on the sentencing.

"The lies told in this case only deepened the tragedy of Emmanuel’s death," Hestrin said. “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.”

His parents were arrested on Aug. 22 following a lengthy San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department investigation.

"There was forensic data from the crime scene," San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said during a news briefing in late August. "That's how we learned the jurisdiction where this crime occurred (Riverside County). Forensically, there were a number of things we were able to prove up."
He did not disclose specifics.

Rebecca Haro first reported her son was missing on the evening of Aug. 14, in the 34000 block of Yucaipa Boulevard, outside of a Big 5 Sporting Goods Store in Yucaipa, in San Bernardino County.

She told deputies she'd been assaulted while standing near her vehicle, changing Emmanuel's diaper outside the store. In a news conference the next day, Jake and Rebecca Haro stood side by side, saying that she had been knocked out, and that an unknown attacker had fled the scene with her infant son. As numerous people gathered to help search for the baby, the Haro's story began to unravel.

By Aug. 18, San Bernardino County Sheriff's detectives served search warrants at the defendants' Ramona Street property, and gathered "a large amount of surveillance video" from "areas of interest for review," Dicus said.

Investigators learned that Jake Haro had been arrested and charged last year in Banning with illegal possession of a loaded firearm, as well as probation violations. That case has not been resolved.

Court documents also revealed that Isabel Rebecca Gonzalez, Haro's former spouse, filed a domestic violence restraining order against him with a request to protect the couple's son, Eli.

Rebecca Haro has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County, and she continues to be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brandon Smith.

"Because there are still active criminal proceedings involving Rebecca Haro, the District Attorney’s
Office will be making no additional comments regarding the case or Jake Haro’s sentencing," a spokesperson from the DA's office said.

District Attorney Mike Hestrin said Emmanuel's death was preventable, blaming a failure in the criminal justice system for enabling Jake Haro to remain free on probation after pleading guilty in a child abuse case involving his ex-wife and another infant, Carolina.

In 2023, Haro admitted a child cruelty charge, but again pled directly to the court, avoiding negotiations with prosecutors. Hestrin said the D.A.'s office had wanted prison for the defendant's extensive abuse of the girl, which resulted in broken ribs, a fractured skull, and a brain hemorrhage, leaving her permanently bedridden.

"If that judge had done his job, Emmanuel would be alive today," Hestrin said.

"Prior to any plea to the court in that case, we strongly objected to the proposed sentence," according to the D.A.'s office. "Our objection was made based on the seriousness of the injuries Mr. Haro inflicted on his then-10-week-old daughter. When the court chose to deviate (from the prosecution's effort to secure prison) ... it was acutely aware of the heinous and permanent nature of this young victim's injuries. We believe that granting Haro probation under these circumstances, on these facts, was an inappropriate use of (the court's) discretion."

Related:

Father Pleads Guilty In Son Emmanuel Haro's Murder: RivCo DA

Police Have 'Strong Indication' Of Where Baby Emmanuel's Remains Are Located

4 Things To Know About The CA Case Of Missing Baby Emmanuel Haro