Baby Emmanuel Case: Advocates say guilty plea not enough without recovery of remains
Garrett Hottle
CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) Advocates say justice for Baby Emmanuel Haro remains incomplete even after his father’s guilty plea to murder charges in Riverside County Superior Court. Jake Haro, the father of 7-month old Emmanuel Haro, pleaded guilty to murder, child endangerment, and filing a false police report during a Felony Settlement Conference on Thursday. Prosecutors say Haro fabricated an abduction story last August, claiming his baby was kidnapped in a Yucaipa parking lot. Investigators later determined that report was false.
According to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Haro’s plea was entered directly to the court, not part of a plea deal, leaving the judge to determine his sentence. He faces 25 years to life in prison when he returns for sentencing Nov. 3. That same day, Rebecca Renee Haro, 41, is due in the same courtroom for a preliminary hearing on murder and false report charges.
Inside the courtroom Thursday, gasps and quiet sobs rippled through the gallery as Haro began crying and told the judge he wanted to change his plea. Don Cato, a Menifee resident who has followed the case since the beginning, said he saw Rebecca Haro begin rocking back and forth in tears.
“As he was crying, he said he wanted to plead guilty,” Cato said. “As soon as he did, she started rocking and saying, ‘My baby, my baby.’ Her attorneys tried to calm her by rubbing her shoulder. The whole courtroom was shocked.”
“Jake Haro’s guilty plea is a necessary step toward accountability, and we acknowledge the hard work of the prosecution to secure a conviction,” said Daniel Chapin, founder of the Uvalde Foundation For Kids. “However, justice for Emmanuel is incomplete until his remains are recovered. This plea cannot overshadow the systemic failures that enabled this abuse, nor the ongoing failure of the Sheriff’s Department to bring this child home for a proper burial. 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.”
According to transportation logs reviewed Friday morning, Jake and Rebecca Haro appeared in juvenile court.
As of today, investigators and the DA’s office have stated Emmanuel’s Remains have not been found.
“Because Rebecca’s case is still active, we cannot confirm or deny details of the investigation,” a spokesperson for the DA’s office stated.
This story is developing and will be added with additional info as it becomes available.