A California father has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of his 7-month-old son, whose disappearance under false pretenses captivated national attention earlier this year. The sentencing marks a significant development in a case that began with a fabricated kidnapping story and culminated in a guilty plea for second-degree murder.
Jake Haro, 32, received his sentence from Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk on Monday, November 3, 2025. The judge imposed a term of 25 years to life for the murder of his son, Emmanuel, plus an additional seven years and two months for violating probation from a previous child abuse case. These sentences will run consecutively, ensuring Haro serves over three decades behind bars, and he was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victims’ family.
The tragic events unfolded in mid-August when Haro and his wife, Rebecca, reported that their son had been kidnapped from a Big 5 store parking lot in Yucaipa. Rebecca claimed she was attacked and knocked unconscious while changing the baby’s diaper, but authorities quickly identified inconsistencies in their account. Despite extensive searches by law enforcement and volunteers, no trace of the infant was ever found, and he is presumed dead, with the investigation failing to locate his remains.
Investigators arrested the couple at their home in Cabazon just over a week after the reported kidnapping, charging them with murder. The district attorney’s office highlighted that the Haros ceased cooperating with the investigation, raising suspicions that led to their detention. The case drew widespread media coverage, with the initial plea for the baby’s safe return turning into a murder investigation that revealed the parents’ involvement.
Haro’s criminal history includes a 2023 child abuse conviction for severely injuring his then-10-month-old daughter, for which he received a suspended prison sentence and probation. Prosecutors argued that this prior offense demonstrated a pattern of behavior, and the court reactivated the suspended term as part of the current sentencing. Assistant District Attorney Brandon Smith described Haro’s actions as among the ‘lower forms of evil,’ emphasizing the loss of two young children’s lives.
During the sentencing hearing, the baby’s grandmother, Mary Beushausen, delivered an emotional impact statement, expressing her family’s devastation and her inability to ever meet Emmanuel. She questioned why Haro committed the crime and stated that she would have intervened had she known the danger. The judge acknowledged the profound grief, stating that the sentence was the maximum possible to achieve justice for the defenseless child.
Rebecca Haro, 41, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges and remains in custody on $1 million bail. Her trial is scheduled for January, where she will face allegations related to her son’s death. The couple’s legal proceedings have been closely watched, with the mother’s defense yet to be presented in court, adding another layer to this complex case.
The case concludes with the baby’s body still missing, leaving unresolved questions for the family and community. It underscores the severe consequences of child abuse and the importance of thorough investigations in uncovering the truth behind such heinous crimes. As the legal process continues for Rebecca Haro, the sentencing brings a measure of accountability, though closure remains elusive for those affected by this tragedy.