Emmanuel Haro’s mom Rebecca pleads GUILTY in murder of seven-month-old baby son & sentenced to 12 years in prison
Emmanuel Haro’s mom Rebecca pleads GUILTY in murder of seven-month-old baby son & sentenced to 12 years in prison
THE mother of Emmanuel Haro has pleaded guilty in connection with the killing of her 7-month-old son, whose body has never been recovered.
Rebecca Haro‘s sudden reversal comes months after her husband, Jake Haro, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the death of their toddler, who was last seen alive in August 2025.
She was facing charges of felony murder and filing a false police report,
A judge sentenced her to 12 years and 8 months in prison, according to ABC affiliate KESQ-TV.
Rebecca declined to speak before the judge imposed sentencing
“Rebecca Haro is going to prison because she failed as a mother,” prosecutor Brandon Smith said in a press conference after the proceeding.
“She may not have put her hands on Emmanuel, but she knew that Jake was and she had the responsibility to intervene, and she chose repeatedly not to.”
The case of baby Emmanuel’s disappearance gripped the nation last summer after Rebecca claimed to local news outlets that her son was snatched from her vehicle outside a sporting goods store in Yucaipa, California, about 10 miles east of San Bernardino.
Rebecca sported a black eye as she cried out to reporters to help locate Emmanuel, claiming an unknown man came up from behind her and knocked her unconscious before kidnapping the boy
But the truth to the Haros’ twisted actions was slowly unraveled by San Bernardino deputies who found inconsistencies in Rebecca’s initial story before she suddenly stopped cooperating.
Jake Haro’s dark history came to light as it was revealed he had previously been convicted for felony willful child cruelty two years before Emmanuel was murdered.
In 2018, Haro was arrested for his vicious ᴀssault on Emmanuel’s half sister, Promise, who was 10 weeks old at the time
Baby Promise suffered traumatic injuries at the hands of Haro and his then-wife Vanessa Avina.
The girl, who is now seven years old, was left permanently blind, unable to walk or talk, and with only three percent brain function.
As part of a plea deal, Haro escaped prison time after a judge sentenced him to probation.
In the case of Emmanuel, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants at the deranged couple’s home in Cabazon.
The dramatic arrests of Haro and Rebecca took place on August 22, 2025, a week after she reported Emmanuel missing.
Heavily armed officers were caught on camera leading Haro and Rebecca out of their disheveled home in handcuffs.
The shameless couple spoke out in separate jailhouse interviews where they declared their innocence and praised each other as doting parents.
In his interview, Haro complained that he was pressured into accepting a plea deal in 2023 and claimed Rebecca was innocent.
Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin slammed Haro’s initial deal, which he called an “outrageous error in judgment” that allowed him to remain free and ultimately led to Emmanuel’s murder.
“If that judge had done his job as he should have, Emmanuel would be alive today,” Hestrin said last September.
“It’s a shame and it’s an outrage.”
In October, a judge sentenced Haro to a determinate sentence of 180 days, six years and eight months, and an indeterminate sentence of 25 years to life.
He will first serve his determinate sentence of nearly seven years in state prison. Once complete, he will begin his punishment of 25 years to life.
Haro sobbed in court after admitting to the sickening crime.
Rebecca changed her not guilty plea on Friday just as her preliminary hearing was set to begin.
Emmanuel’s remains have not been recovered nearly a year after he was last seen alive.
Smith, the Riverside County prosecutor, said investigators still do not know where Emmanuel’s body is, admitting that his remains may never be found.
Prosecutors believe Emmanuel died as a result of prolonged and persistent abusive head trauma at the hands of Haro, Smith said.
