Crime
Jake Haro, father of baby Emmanuel Haro pleaded guilty to all charges in the murder case
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The father of missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro has pleaded guilty to all charges, including second-degree murder, in connection with the infant’s death.
During what was scheduled as a felony settlement conference on Thursday, Jake Haro entered his guilty plea before a Riverside County judge.
Haro appeared visibly emotional and cried as he admitted to killing his infant son, whose remains have still not been found since his disappearance in May.
Prosecutors said the plea was entered directly to the judge, without any negotiated agreement between the defense and prosecution.
The charges include second-degree murder, assault of a child under eight causing great bodily injury resulting in death, and filing a false police report.
Haro now faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 3 in Riverside County Superior Court.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel’s mother, Rebecca Haro, who is also charged with murder and filing a false police report, has pleaded not guilty.
Her preliminary hearing is set for the same day as her husband’s sentencing, during which the court will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
The case began in August, when Rebecca Haro initially reported that her son had been kidnapped outside a Yucaipa store following an alleged assault.
Law enforcement officers, assisted by K-9 units, launched an extensive search for the missing infant. However, investigators later uncovered inconsistencies in her account, leading authorities to reclassify the case.
On August 22, both Jake and Rebecca Haro were arrested in Cabazon after detectives concluded that the reported kidnapping had been fabricated.
Four days later, at a press conference, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced that investigators had evidence Emmanuel had been “severely abused over time” and said they had a strong indication of where his remains might be located, though none have yet been recovered.
Both parents have remained in custody on $1 million bail since their arrests.
As of now, investigators continue efforts to locate Emmanuel’s remains and gather additional evidence in the ongoing case.
WICHITA, Kan. — A Wichita woman has been sentenced to more than three years in prison following her guilty plea in connection with the March shooting death of 7-year-old Davion Gunter in the city’s Planeview neighborhood.
On Thursday, Tasha Dillard was sentenced to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated child endangerment, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said the fatal incident occurred after Dillard and several other adults left a group of young children unsupervised inside an apartment while they sat outside in a vehicle drinking alcohol.
During that time, a firearm discharged inside the residence, fatally striking 7-year-old Davion Gunter.
Dillard was arrested shortly after the incident and initially faced first-degree murder and seven counts of aggravated child endangerment.
However, in September, she entered a plea agreement that reduced the charges to involuntary manslaughter and a single count of aggravated child endangerment.
The tragic case drew significant community attention to child safety and gun responsibility, particularly regarding the dangers of leaving firearms accessible to unsupervised children.
Dillard will serve her sentence in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.