Authorities in Riverside County have confirmed that 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro’s father, Jake Haro, has admitted to killing his infant son and discarding his body in a trash can. The shocking confession was revealed through an undercover inmate who investigators used to gather evidence after uncovering a troubling history of abuse within the family.

District Attorney Michael Hestrin stated that Emmanuel endured ongoing physical abuse from both Jake and his wife, Rebecca Haro, which ultimately resulted in the child’s tragic death. Initially, Rebecca attempted to mislead investigators, claiming that a stranger had abducted the baby. However, inconsistencies in the couple’s accounts quickly unraveled their story, leading to their arrests on suspicion of murder.

During questioning, Jake changed his version of events multiple times. At one point, he claimed Emmanuel had accidentally suffocated while sleeping beside him. Investigators, however, believe the abuse was deliberate and sustained, with Hestrin emphasizing that the child had suffered “prolonged and systematic physical harm.”

Authorities are now searching for Emmanuel’s remains, focusing on a possible burial site near a freeway. Despite Jake’s claims of disposing of the baby in a trash can, the body has yet to be located, adding further heartbreak and uncertainty for those seeking closure in the case.

The case has also reignited criticism of the justice system’s handling of Jake Haro’s prior child abuse conviction involving another daughter. Despite the severity of that case, he never served prison time—a decision DA Hestrin now describes as a grave failure that may have enabled further abuse.

Both Jake and Rebecca Haro are expected to face murder charges as the investigation continues. Authorities have vowed to pursue justice for Emmanuel, even as the exact location of his remains remains unknown.