The California man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to killing his son, 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro, was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison Monday.
Jake Haro, 32, initially claimed along with his wife Rebecca Haro, 41, that baby Emmanuel went missing after Ms. Haro was attacked in a parking lot in Yucaipa, California, on Aug. 14. Subsequent investigation by Riverside County authorities led to the pair’s arrest on charges of murder.
Emmanuel’s remains have not been found.
The father initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea on Oct. 16, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office said. There was no plea agreement, and Haro was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for murder along with 180 days for filing a false police report.
The judge also sentenced Haro to another six years in prison for a prior child abuse conviction, and another eight months for possessing a firearm as a felon, the district attorney’s office said.
The six-year sentence, originally suspended, was handed down after Haro was convicted in 2018 of child endangerment for assaulting his then 10-month-old daughter and leaving her with lasting injuries, according to The Associated Press.
“Jake Haro murdered seven-month-old Emmanuel but, in reality, he comes before this court having taken the lives of two young children. If there are lower forms of evil in this world, I am not aware of them,” Riverside County Assistant District Attorney Brandon Smith said in court filings, according to the AP.
Ms. Haro is due back in court for a felony settlement conference on Jan. 21, 2026.
“The lies told in this case only deepened the tragedy of Emmanuel’s death. 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,” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said.
